For a study guide see page 22.
Our favorite Bible characters & stories
E
arlier this year, Te Lutheran invited readers to submit reflections on their favorite Bible charac- ters and stories. We chose to share this collection
in Advent as we ponder the Word becoming flesh to be among us. From the Hebrew midwives who risked every-
thing to protect baby Moses to the story of the bronze serpent, the Bible characters and stories readers chose weren’t what we expected. Yes, there were some classic stories and characters, but where were Peter, Jonah and Martha? What about the story of the great flood or, my personal favorite, the story of the prodigal son? No two entries were alike. Instead, this was a kalei-
doscope of carefully selected biblical people and stories that reflect the diversity of the body of Christ. And the submis- sions were highly personal, oſten weaving Scripture into everyday realities. Te responses were so powerful that rather than pull out snippets and highlight trends (which would have been near impossible), we selected a handful of complete reflections to edit and publish.
We are grateful to readers for their responses and
regret that we can’t share all of them. We hope these selections and the artwork that appears alongside them will comfort and inspire you this season. Te surprising nature of this collection of reflec-
tions is fitting for the season. May they, and the art that accompanies them, remind you of the many ways God’s Word comes into the world and challenges us in unexpected, uncomfortable ways. Could this tiny newborn in a lowly manger really be our savior? Yes. Astonishingly, yes. Such is the heart of our life of faith.
Erin Strybis is an associate editor of The Lutheran.
“Merode Altarpiece
Tripych,” center panel (c. 1425-1428); oil on wood panel by Robert Campin
(1375-1444; Flemish); Metropolitan
Museum of Art, N.Y. 16
www.thelutheran.org
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