But this year, there are more people trying Dry January than ever before and it’s no wonder why. According to a recent survey, there has been a predictable increase in alcohol consumption during the pandemic. More people are drinking greater amounts of alcohol. What this pandemic drinking tells us is that it’s not just social events, peer pressure, or societal expectation that inspires drinking. But drinking, even more than before, can take place in isolation.
I have more supports, more accountability, and more experience than ever before and I am so grateful and so much healthier for it. But I am just as close, if not closer to relapsing.
Because sitting at home in isolation today, I know that I could fall into the temptation of substance bliss all over again. And unfortunately, if I can feel that temptation, I know that there are hundreds (probably thousands) of people that are experiencing that temptation too. And I know that there are hundreds (probably thousands) of young people that may be learning the power of alcohol or other substances during this time of isolation. Getting lost in whatever brief euphoria they can manufacture in attempts to numb the pain and release anger and frustration.
The Easter narrative in Matthew emphasizes the quiet uncertainty of resurrection, contrasting with celebratory worship. Resurrection is depicted as a transformative event that propels the disciples into action. Rather than serving as a conclusion, it marks the beginning of the church's mission, urging believers to carry Jesus' message into the world.
The Easter Vigil uniquely begins in darkness, emphasizing the resurrection's quiet start in a garden. Mary Magdalene's encounter with the risen Christ reveals layers of meaning, connecting themes of creation and renewal. The gardener's role symbolizes God's ongoing work in cultivating life, hope, and restoration, echoing the story's origins in Eden.
Maundy Thursday evokes deep emotions as Jesus shares a final meal with his disciples, foreshadowing betrayal and crucifixion. John’s Gospel highlights Jesus washing the disciples' feet, emphasizing humility and service. The new commandment to love one another, demonstrated through this act, defines true discipleship, contrasting worldly power with selfless love and community.
Palm Sunday begins with celebration, but Matthew’s story ends with a question: “Who is this?” As Jesus enters Jerusalem like a king—but not the kind people expect—the crowds reveal how easily we shape Jesus around our hopes. This reflection invites preachers to explore the tension between expectation, misunderstanding, and Christ’s true identity.
As Lent nears its end, the story of Lazarus in John's Gospel highlights profound themes of grief and divine presence. Jesus, despite knowing the outcome, engages with the sorrow of Mary and Martha, illustrating God's empathetic nature. The narrative emphasizes the church's role in being present with those who mourn, reinforcing the promise of the Holy Spirit's abiding companionship.
In John 9, Jesus heals a man blind from birth, depicting a deeper narrative about identity and recognition rather than merely the miracle. The healed man's struggle for acceptance highlights societal perceptions of disability. The story invites reflection on how communities recognize and redefine individuals beyond past labels, emphasizing a divine understanding of identity.
The Gospel of John presents a transformative encounter between Jesus and a Samaritan woman at a well, emphasizing the theme of thirst. Initially, it is Jesus who expresses need, destabilizing traditional power dynamics. This paradox reflects the essence of the incarnation, illustrating that God's love embraces vulnerability and shared humanity, inviting deeper spiritual recognition.
The content emphasizes the shifting perspective within the Gospel of John, focusing on Nicodemus’ journey from certainty to transformation. Through his encounters with Jesus, Nicodemus embodies the struggle of changing one’s mind and understanding faith. The text encourages embracing curiosity and gradual reorientation as essential parts of spiritual growth, especially during Lent.
The content emphasizes Lent as a period of introspection and spiritual identity, highlighting Jesus' temptations in the wilderness. Rather than viewing temptations as challenges to resist, it invites reflection on the nature of Jesus as a Messiah who exemplifies trust, community, and service over self-sufficiency, spectacle, and domination.
Ash Wednesday encourages reflection on the essence of faith, urging a shift from performative piety to inward orientation. It emphasizes the importance of what we treasure, which shapes our hearts. True treasure lies not in accolades but in deep, boundary-crossing love. The ashes serve as a reminder of our mortality and dependence on God.
Micah Krey 