I believe that words are important and powerful. Not in a magical way, but in their ability to name and declare something for what it truly is or might be.
We are the Light on the Ridge proclaiming the love of Jesus in thought, word, and deed
We are the Light on the Ridge proclaiming the love of Jesus in thought, word, and deed
Sermons on Luke
Our names are crucial to our identity….
But Paul has another word to those waiting for the end of the world to happen: besides getting back to work, Paul says to both the idle, and to those complaining about them: do not be weary in doing what is right. And what is right? What does the Lord require of us? Do justice.…
The blessings and woes of the gospel make me wonder. I have been poor, and hungry, and weeping. Hated, too. It did not feel like a blessing. On the other hand, why would Jesus say, “woe” to those who are rich? Or have full bellies? Or who enjoy a good time or a good reputation? …
Waiting for the good news? Here it is: like the widow in today’s gospel lesson, God is persistent. God will keep at us until we are moved to do what God intends for us to do.
Samaritans were impure, unclean, considered worse sinners than others. Jesus broke the bounds of the purity laws in today’s gospel.
Pride is about me. Faith is about God.
Sometimes our hearts just get frozen up. Like Scrooge’s heart. We don’t see the obvious needs of those around us. The physical needs. The spiritual needs.
It is human nature to want to head in a different direction from that suggested by those older and, presumably, wiser. Like Like Jonah going to sea instead of to Nineveh.
We are the kinds of people Jesus welcomes. We are the ones for whom Jesus came into the world, we are the ones whom God “so loved that God sent” Jesus into the world “so that whoever believed in him might not perish, but have everlasting life.”