DAILY READING Revelation 1:1-6 REFLECTION Yes, Jesus Loves Me   By Elaine Pierce When the apostle John wrote the book of the Revelation, the young church was growing despite persecution by the Romans. Caesar worship became a major component of Roman civil religion. John and other Christians refused to worship Caesar, and some had their property seized; others were tortured, imprisoned, or exiled. John wrote Revelation from exile on the Island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea. So what does John...

DAILY READING John 20:1-20 REFLECTION   Are You the Gardener? By Elaine Pierce Have you ever mistaken someone for someone else? In Luke 24:13-35, two followers of Jesus are discouraged and defeated because Jesus has been crucified, and they think that their rabbi is dead and all their dreams of redeeming Israel and defeating the hated Romans have died with him. They don't recognize him as he walks with them on the road to Emmaus. Only when he breaks bread with them at dinner do they...

DAILY READING John 11:1-44 REFLECTION   Believe Him! By Elaine Pierce John doesn't tell us the name of the bride and groom who ran out of wine at their wedding feast (John 2). He doesn't tell us the name of the royal official whose son is sick and dying (John 4). We don't know the name of the man who was lame for 38 years (John 5). And the name of the man born blind is not revealed to us (John 9). But in John 11, we learn about Jesus' dear friends, sisters Mary and Martha and their brother...