Based on Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son, Luke 15: 11-32 by Mathew Swora The scene was a room in a musty old church basement. Beige paint was peeling in flecks from the cinderblock walls, while knocking and banging noises were coming from a radiator. The floor:...

In all seriousness, with no discernible sense of humor nor irony, student protesters and rioters in the streets of Paris, in May of 1968, chanted, “It is forbidden to forbid!” Had they lingered in thought a few moments over an espresso at a sidewalk bistro before...

John 21  15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He...

‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says, ‘That I will pour forth of My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, And your young men shall see visions, And your old men shall dream dreams; 18 Even on My bondslaves, both men and women,...

44 Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then He opened their minds to understand the...

All five of us managed to fit into my Toyota Prius for the ride from Eastern Mennonite University, in Harrisonburg, Virginia, to the Shenandoah National Park for a hike. I was driving. We were students at the Summer Peacebuilding Institute, which brings in teachers...

Luke 24: 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight.  As I was getting ready to go see my spiritual director this week,...

Something has bothered me in recent years about the idea that society is becoming less religious, and therefore more secular. Many polls and their data agree that the fastest growing religious identities now are the “nones,” those with no religious affiliation or...

Luke 24: 13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself...

"I have seen the Lord!" It was nearly thirty years ago, in my office at First Mennonite Church of McPherson, Kansas, that I opened a piece of hand-written mail that had no return address, no name, no signature anywhere. Now, I don’t usually give the time of day to...