Pastoral Reflections

Day 12: The Pharisees Again Scripture Reading: Matthew 9:9-13 In this passage, Jesus does something that unsettles the religious establishment; He eats with tax collectors and sinners. The Pharisees are disturbed because He associates too closely with the wrong people. The table becomes the battleground. For the Pharisees, holiness meant separation. Righteousness meant careful distance from moral and ceremonial contamination. But for Jesus, holiness is not fragile. It is cont

Day 11: Simon, the Pharisee Scripture Reading: Luke 7:36-50 Simon invited Jesus into his home, but not fully into his heart. He extended social courtesy, but not surrendered devotion. He was close to Jesus physically, yet far from Him spiritually. It is possible to host Jesus in our religious structures while quietly judging those who come weeping at His feet. As pastors, church leaders, and believers, we may recognize ourselves in Simon’s posture. We value order. We apprecia

Day 10: The Teachers of the Law Scripture Reading: Mark 2:1-12 In Mark 2:1–12, the house is full. Crowds press in. Four friends tear open the roof. A paralyzed man lies before Jesus. Faith is visible. Hope is desperate. And seated inside the house are the teachers of the law. They are not on the outside opposing. They are inside, observing. Watching. Evaluating. When Jesus says, “Son, your sins are forgiven,” they begin reasoning in their hearts:“Why does this man speak like

Day 9: “The Pharisee” Scripture Reading: John 9:13-34 As we reflect on “The Pharisee,” we must begin with humility. It is easy to read the Gospel stories and place ourselves on the side of Jesus while quietly judging the Pharisees. We must remember that the Pharisees were not careless unbelievers. They were serious, disciplined, devout people who longed to honor God. In many ways, they would look like faithful church members today. Their desire was holiness. Their aim was obe

Day 8: The Scribes Scripture Reading: Mark 3:22-30 Dear Church Family, In Mark 3, the scribes come down from Jerusalem with confidence and certainty. They are not pagans. They are not immoral rebels. They are trained theologians, guardians of Scripture, protectors of orthodoxy. And yet, when they encounter Jesus casting out demons, they do not rejoice. They accuse. “He has Beelzebul,” they say. “By the prince of demons, he casts out demons.” It is a chilling moment. The work

Day 7: The Family of Jesus Scripture Reading: Mark 3:20-21; 31-35 Dear Church Family, In today’s reading, we are confronted with a surprising and sobering truth: even Jesus’ own family struggled to understand Him. In Mark’s Gospel, we are told that when Jesus began His public ministry, His family attempted to restrain Him, saying, “He is out of his mind” (Mark 3:21). Later, when His mother and brothers came looking for Him, Jesus responded with words that must have startled e

Day 6: Hometown Folk Scripture Reading: Mark 6:1-6a In Day 6, we are brought face-to-face with one of the quietest yet most sobering tragedies in the Gospel story: the people who knew Jesus best recognized Him least. When Jesus returned to His hometown, the people were astonished at His wisdom and works. Yet their amazement did not become faith. Instead, it became resistance. They said, in essence, “We know Him. We know His family. We know His past.” And because they belie

Day 5: The Devil Scripture Reading: Matthew 4:1-11 Beloved in Christ, The wilderness is a place none of us willingly chooses, yet it is often the very place where our real battles are fought. After His baptism, when the heavens had opened and the Father’s voice declared, “This is my beloved Son,” Jesus was led into the wilderness. There, in silence and hunger, the devil came. It is striking that temptation did not meet Jesus at a moment of weakness caused by sin, but at a m

Day 4: John the Baptist Scripture Reading: John 1:29-34 Beloved in Christ, As we reflect on Day 4 of Jesus the Stranger , we are invited to step into the wilderness alongside John the Baptist, that bold and faithful forerunner whom God raised up to prepare the way of the Lord. The prophets had long foretold that a messenger would come before the Messiah, and in John we see that promise fulfilled, echoing the ancient words of Isaiah and Malachi. God’s timing is never hurried,

Day 3: Herod the Great Scripture Reading: Matthew 2:1-16 Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. Herod was a king surrounded by power, authority, and influence. Yet when he heard that a true King had been born, fear—not faith—rose within him. His throne was secure, his army was strong, and his rule was recognized. Still, a child in a manger unsettled him. Why? Because worldly power trembles whenever divine authority appears. Herod’s story reveals a sobering truth: it is possible

Day 2: Simeon Scripture Reading: Luke 2:25-35 Beloved in Christ, There is something deeply holy about a life that waits well. In a world that rushes, demands, and insists on immediate answers, Simeon stands before us as a quiet witness to the sacred discipline of patient hope. Scripture tells us that Simeon was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. His life was not marked by public miracles or great achievements, but by

Day 1: The True Light Scripture Reading: John 1:9-13 Dear Friends, As we begin this journey through Jesus the Stranger , I invite you to pause with me today and reflect on John’s words about Jesus: “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world” (John 1:9). What a beautiful, yet sobering truth! The Word of God, who existed before time itself, stepped into our world—not as a distant figure, but as the light that illuminates every corner of our hea

Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the peace that surpasses all understanding, rest upon you and sustain you in every season of life. Around this time last year, my life was unexpectedly interrupted by a diagnosis of retinal detachment. What followed was an urgent surgery and a long season—nearly a year—in which I lived without sight in one eye. As a pastor, as a disciple of Christ, and as a fellow pilgrim walking the fragile r

Dear beloved church family, What we eat and drink never lies. What we take into our bodies eventually becomes our body and shapes our health. The same is true for our souls. What we watch and what we listen determines the health of our spiritual life. When we see what we should not see, hear what we should not hear, and then dwell on those things all day long, our souls slowly but surely become weary and unhealthy. Not long ago, as I was filling my car with gas, I noticed a n

Dear Beloved Church Family, Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. As we enter the fourth week of our journey through the Gospel of Mark, I am reminded that the pulpit is the place where my greatest joy and my deepest reverence meet. I ascend to proclaim the Word with gratitude and holy anticipation, yet also with a weight upon my heart—a trembling responsibility—because what is spoken is the Gospel itself: the living Word whose power shapes, confronts,

From the Pastor to you: I immigrated to Canada with my parents when I was ten years old. It was not a decision I made, nor one I could influence. I had no choice. My early years in Canada were shaped by the weight of immigrant life—by struggle, by experiences of racial discrimination, and by a growing awareness of the injustices embedded in society. After graduating from high school, my parents decided to relocate once again, this time to Los Angeles, California. And once aga

From the Pastor to you. Recently, I received an urgent call from someone I once pastored many years ago. With a heavy heart, they shared, “Pastor, the mother of our grandchildren left home, and we haven’t heard from her. It’s so cold outside. The children are just waiting and praying for their mom to come home.” While it is possible that a friend may have picked her up, there are still many uncertainties surrounding the situation. For this reason, the family has reported the

Dear Church Family, Today, because of the inclement weather, we gathered not in our church building but in our homes, worshiping together through our RockSpring online service. During the COVID-19 pandemic a few years ago, I found myself in a similar place. I am not really a tech-savvy person and I had to teach myself how to use my phone to record messages, edit files, and distribute them to the congregation completely alone. I had no assistance, no sound system, no media tea

Dear Church Family, Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! Due to the inclement weather expected this week, and out of deep concern for the safety of our congregation, RockSpring leadership has made the prayerful decision to cancel both our Friday and Sunday in-person worship services. This decision was not made lightly. It was made out of love, responsibility, and a commitment to care for one another well. I am grateful for our faithful leaders who cons

Dear Beloved Saints! When I was 10 years old, my family immigrated to Canada from South Korea. Despite my parent’s best efforts to explain the process to me, I had very little understanding of what was actually going to happen once we arrived. I spoke no English, knew nothing about the country that would be my new home, and understood even less the long-term ramifications of immigrant life. Nevertheless, I put my little hands into theirs and happily boarded the plane. You cou