David Ewart

Luke 15:1-10 The parables are about the joy to be had on earth from the good news of the extravagant God who risks all to search for each one of us - joyfully.

@holytextures.bsky.social
Luke 15:1-10, Sunday between September 11-17
"These parables are more about the joy to be had on earth from hearing the good news of the extravagant God who risks all to search for each of us personally, individually - joyfully."
www.holytextures.com/2023/04/luke...

Luke 14:25-33, Sunday between September 4-10
"Jesus challenges any hopes for an easy entry into the messianic age. The way ahead will be hard, not magical."
www.holytextures.com/2023/04/luke...

Luke 14:1, 7-14 What does it look like for those with higher status / honour / privilege to live the year of the Lord's favour?

Luke 14:1, 7-14, Sunday between August 28-September 3
"This is what Jesus is teaching / proclaiming here. What does it look like for those with higher status / honour / privilege to live the year of the Lord's favour?"
www.holytextures.com/2023/04/luke...

Luke 13:10-17 This lesson invites us to ponder how our own rules, customs, and habits have become "Bad News" for the poor and oppressed.

Luke 13:10-17, Sunday between August 21-27
"This lesson invites to ponder how our own rules of what is right and proper have become "Bad News" for the poor and the oppressed - and to break those habits so that the Good News of release, and recovery happens."
www.holytextures.com/2023/04/luke...

Luke 12:49-56 Jesus is revolutionary in stressing loyalty to him - and kinship with those who are also loyal to him - over one's own family.

Luke 12:49-56, Sunday between August 14-20
"Just as natural consequences follow from the weather, so do natural consequences follow from human behaviours. The "present times" presage the future, and it is hypocrisy to plead innocence when that future unfolds."
www.holytextures.com/2023/04/luke...

Luke 12:32-40 Wow. God, for no other reason than it simply pleases God - delights God - for this reason alone - God gives us the kingdom. No worries.

Luke 12:32-40, Sunday between August 7-13
"We live in a world that wants us to treasure acquiring more and more stuff. Jesus wants us to find the fun in giving stuff away."
www.holytextures.com/2023/04/luke...

Luke 12:13-21 While Jesus does not ALWAYS attack wealth, this parable is a consistent theme of his teachings: Possessions distract us from true wealth.

Luke 12:13-21, Sunday between July 31 - August 6
"While Jesus does not ALWAYS attack wealth, this parable is reflective a consistent theme of his teachings: Possessions distract us from true wealth; from what is rich in the eyes of God."
www.holytextures.com/2023/04/luke...

Luke 11:1-13 Up till this point who has said anything about asking for the Holy Spirit? What are we to make of this?

Luke 11:1-13, Sunday between July 24-30
"The crucial thing is to pray that our hearts be aligned with God's heart, that we come to see our needs as the Holy Spirit sees our needs."
www.holytextures.com/2023/04/luke...

Luke 10:38-42 If we really do desire that God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven, then we need to ask, "Who is doing the chores in heaven?"

Luke 10:38-42, Sunday between July 17-23
"If we desire God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven, then we need to ask, 'Who is doing the chores in heaven?' And if the answer is, 'No one,' then the second best answer for here on earth would be, 'Everyone.'"
www.holytextures.com/2023/04/luke...

Luke 10:25-37 Having created the impossible-possibility of a despised no-body doing what is needed to inherit eternal life, ... presents a double challenge.

Luke 10:25-37, Sunday between July 10-16
A despised no-body doing what is needed to inherit eternal life is a challenge. First. Seeing someone we despise doing what God desires. Second. Seeing ourselves left-for-dead in a ditch and being aided by such a one."
www.holytextures.com/2023/04/luke...

Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 The joy in following Jesus is NOT in the results; the joy is in our relationship with him.

Luke 10:1-11, 16-20, Sunday between July 3-9
"The joy in following Jesus is NOT in the results; the joy is in our relationship with him."
www.holytextures.com/2023/04/luke...

Luke 9:51-62 I'm hoping Jesus is saying: Make sure that following me is what guides all that you do. Make following me guide you as you bury your father.

Luke 9:51-62, Sunday between June 26 - July 2
"I'm hoping Jesus is saying: Make sure that following me is what guides all that you do. Don't put me aside to go bury your father; make following me guide you as you bury your father."
www.holytextures.com/2023/04/luke...

Luke 8:26-39 Anyone here prefer the stability of the known over the opportunities of the unknown?

Luke 8:26-39, Sunday between June 19-25
"Why are the city people afraid of Jesus? Perhaps they prefer the stability of occupation to the disruption if they were cast out? Anyone here prefer the stability of the known over the opportunities of the unknown?"
www.holytextures.com/2023/05/luke...

www.davidewart.ca/2025/06/why-...

John 16:12-15 We need to hear Jesus's commitment of abiding love / loyalty / protection / guidance / bonding with his followers then - and now - and always.

John 16:12-15, Trinity Sunday (aka Whitsunday)
"This is not a lecture on the doctrine of the Trinity. It is about Jesus's personal commitment of steadfast love / loyalty / protection / guidance / bonding with his followers then - and now - and always."
www.holytextures.com/2023/01/john...

John 14:8-17, (25-27) We, like Philip, should receive Jesus's promise with great joy and thanksgiving at Jesus's generosity. We have not been left alone.

John 14:8-17 (25-27), Pentecost Sunday
"Those who trust Jesus will know a Truthful Spirit who will: "Teach you everything; and remind you of all that I have said to you." We receive this promise with great joy at Jesus' generosity. We have not been left alone."
www.holytextures.com/2023/02/john...

Acts 2:1-21 The problem with life, and faith, and following Jesus is always: What does this mean?

Acts 2:1-21, Pentecost Sunday
"We might all hear the same words - each in our own language - but we will not all hear and understand exactly the same meaning. The problem with life, and faith, and following Jesus is always: What does this mean?"
www.holytextures.com/2023/01/acts...

John 17:20-26 What John means by "love" is abiding in this love, and being completely one in this love so that outsiders may know that Jesus was sent by the Father.

John 17:20-26, Easter 7
"The vision of the community that abides in the unity of God's love is to be lifted up as a challenge to all followers of Jesus. Will the world indeed see in us the love and glory of God?"
www.holytextures.com/2023/01/john...

John 5:1-9 Verses 1-9 are a high-stakes sign performed by Jesus to show the work that the Father is doing: WORK the Father is doing - even on the Sabbath day of

John 5:1-9, Easter 6
"Without Verses 11-20, we might not realize that Verses 1-9 are a high-stakes sign performed by Jesus to show the work that the Father is doing: WORK the Father is doing - even on the Sabbath day of REST."
www.holytextures.com/2023/03/john...

John 14:23-29 You cannot selectively choose only one of following, loving, and abiding: "I'll have the love of Jesus please, but hold the keeping the commandments."

John 14:23-29, Easter 6
"A better way to understand John is to ask, 'What part of me / our community is not fully participating in the way of Jesus? What healing / correction / guidance would help to deepen greater participation?'"
www.holytextures.com/2023/02/john...

John 13:31-35 There are two challenges here. One is to know deeply how Jesus loves. And the other is to let the "you" be "me." - "I love you as Jesus loves me."

John 13:31-35, Easter 5
"There are at least two challenges in Jesus' commandment, 'Love one another as I have loved you.' One is to deeply and correctly discern how Jesus loves. And the other is to let the 'you' be 'me.' - 'I love you as Jesus loves me.'"
www.holytextures.com/2023/02/john...

John 10:22-30 The challenge for most mainline Christians is not following Jesus. We've know all about that. The challenge for us is recognizing Jesus's voice.

John10:22-30, Easter 4
"I think the plain message of Jesus is we may screw up, others may harm us, accidents and disease may take our life, but nothing will snatch us out of the caring, restoring, life-giving hand of God."
www.holytextures.com/2023/02/john...

John 21:1-19 When Jesus asks Peter for the third time, "Do you love me?" Jesus uses "philios." In effect, accepting Peter's offer of friendship.

John 21:1-19, Easter 3
"This is the story of 'The First Breakfast.'"
www.holytextures.com/2023/01/john...

John 20:19-31 John wants us to SEE. And seeing, that we might trust. And trusting, that we might have the life that is IN Jesus.

John 20:19-31, Easter 2
"John doesn't care what we see with our eyeballs. He wants us to SEE with our inner eye who Jesus really is. That is why he has written these signs. That in SEEing, we might trust; and in trusting, we might have the life that is in Jesus."
www.holytextures.com/2023/01/john...

Luke 24:1-12 This lesson contains no resurrection. But this lesson also contains trusting the amazing void.

Luke 24:1-12, Easter
"This lesson contains no resurrection. But this lesson also contains trusting the amazing void. And it is a story that asks a question that is still worth pondering today:
Why do you look for the living among the dead?
Luke 24:5"
www.holytextures.com/2023/03/luke...

John 20:1-18 As The Word descended from the Father and became flesh at the beginning of John, Mary experiences the flesh becoming The Word at the end.

John 20:1-18, Easter
"As the Word descended from the Father and became flesh at the start of John's Gospel, Mary is experiencing the reverse process - of the flesh becoming Word."
www.holytextures.com/2023/01/john...

John 18:1 -- 19:42 John wants you to have the life that is revealed through the brutal degradation, torture and execution of Jesus. Gee. Thanks John.

John 18:1--19:42, Good Friday
"To outsiders, a broken Jesus has died in defeat. But to those who trust, a true Son of God has completed his great work, and with a royal nod has passed on his Spirit so that we too might have life - the life that was in Jesus."
www.holytextures.com/2023/01/john...

Luke 22:14 -- 23:56 The sign on the cross may as well have said, "Look what we did to Jesus. Imagine what we do to you."

Luke 23:1-49, Lent 6, Short Passion
"The sign over Jesus may as well have said, 'Look what we did to your leader. Imagine what we'll do to you.' By showing their power, the Romans hoped to kill any hope that anyone would 'take up their cross and follow.' Jesus"
www.holytextures.com/2023/03/luke...

Luke 22:14 -- 23:56 The sign on the cross may as well have said, "Look what we did to Jesus. Imagine what we do to you."

Luke 22:14--23:56, Lent 6, Long Passion
"The sign over Jesus may as well have said, 'Look what we did to your leader. Imagine what we'll do to you.' By showing their power, the Romans hoped to kill any hope that anyone would 'take up their cross and follow.'"
www.holytextures.com/2023/03/luke...

Luke 19:28-40 What the Bible fails to mention is while Jesus is parading in on a colt at one of the back gates, Pilate is parading in on a war horse at another.

Luke 19:28-40, Lent 6, Palm Sunday
"While Jesus is parading in on a colt through one of the back gates, on the other side of the city Pilate is parading in on a war horse accompanied by battle hardened Roman soldiers. Yikes. Someone's gonna killed!"
www.holytextures.com/2023/04/luke...