another vision

Good evening friends,

Today's reading follows up on our tour through Revelation in that it also shares our God's vision for a restored creation and a peaceful world. Like in Revelation, God's peaceful kingdom where the most vulnerable are cared for, follows God's judgment of the evil power that prevents peace and justice (every mountain and hill made low.) This vision also reminds us that only God is eternal. We are called to humble and bold discipleship to build God's kingdom. 

God bless,
Sam

Isaiah 40:1-11

Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. ²Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.

³A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. ⁴Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. ⁵Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” 

⁶A voice says, “Cry out!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field.⁷The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. ⁸The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever.

⁹Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” ¹⁰See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. ¹¹He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.

blessed

Good afternoon sisters and brothers,
Sorry it's been a few days away from the daily readings. Today's reading is familiar to many of us. We call these the beatitudes, which means "blesseds." This is also the beginning of Jesus' most familiar chunk of teaching, the sermon on the mount. Notice how in God's economy the world is turned upside down. The other thing I'd like to point out in this passage is the calling to be light for the world. Our most important work isn't in the church; it's in the world. Our job is to make our faith matter for others, to build God's kingdom here on earth.

God bless,
Sam

Matthew 5:1-16

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. ²Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

³“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ⁴“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. ⁵“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. ⁶“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. ⁷“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. ⁸“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. ⁹“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

¹⁰“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ¹¹“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. ¹²Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

¹³“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. ¹⁴“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. ¹⁵No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. ¹⁶In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

children and the kingdom

Good evening folks,
Today's reading is a reminder that Jesus is more ready to listen to children than his disciples. That also reminds us that Jesus is always willing to listen to us. And it challenges us to hear and pay attention to children with genuine respect. Sometimes our adult preoccupations keep us from seeing God's kingdom.

Blessings on your openness,
Sam

Matthew 19:13-15

¹³Then little children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them; ¹⁴but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” ¹⁵And he laid his hands on them and went on his way.

justice and judgment

Good afternoon church,
In today's reading Amos brings heavy charges against the powerful of Judah. He calls them to task for oppressing the poor and increasing their wealth. He also suggests that many people in Judah looked forward to the day when God's kingdom would be fulfilled, since they were God's special people. Amos warns that with the injustice Judah permits and continues they will find God's judgment harsh rather than rewarding. Faithfulness to God isn't about worship; it's about doing the right thing in our lives, and God cares deeply about the poor.

God bless,
Sam

Amos 5:10-24

¹⁰They hate the one who reproves in the gate, and they abhor the one who speaks the truth. ¹¹Therefore because you trample on the poor and take from them levies of grain, you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not live in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine. ¹²For I know how many are your transgressions, and how great are your sins— you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and push aside the needy in the gate. ¹³Therefore the prudent will keep silent in such a time; for it is an evil time. ¹⁴Seek good and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you, just as you have said. ¹⁵Hate evil and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

¹⁶Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, the Lord: In all the squares there shall be wailing; and in all the streets they shall say, “Alas! alas!” They shall call the farmers to mourning, and those skilled in lamentation, to wailing; ¹⁷in all the vineyards there shall be wailing, for I will pass through the midst of you, says the Lord. ¹⁸Alas for you who desire the day of the Lord! Why do you want the day of the Lord? It is darkness, not light; ¹⁹as if someone fled from a lion, and was met by a bear; or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall, and was bitten by a snake. ²⁰Is not the day of the Lord darkness, not light, and gloom with no brightness in it?

²¹I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. ²²Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals I will not look upon. ²³Take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not listen to the melody of your harps. ²⁴But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everflowing stream.

peaceful kindom

Good morning brothers and sisters,
In our reading from Isaiah this morning Isaiah talks about what the Messiah's kingdom will look like. We see righteousness, peace and wholeness as the marks of this kingdom in place of the selfishness, injustice and violence that characterize most of the kingdoms we know today. Luke tells the story of how Mary became pregnant. I'm always blown away by her faith and courage. Gabriel invites Mary to a dangerous calling that puts her future marriage and her life in danger. I pray we would find hope in Isaiah's kingdom image while we embrace the challenge of Mary's faith.
Come, Lord Jesus,
Sam

Isaiah 11:1-9

A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. ²The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. ³His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; ⁴but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. ⁵Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins.

 ⁶The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. ⁷The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. ⁸The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den. ⁹They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

*Sunday

Luke 1: 26-45

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.

30The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

34Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

wise and foolish

Good morning brothers and sisters,
Jesus tells a parable to show the importance of being prepared for his return and the coming of God's kingdom. A wedding feast is the setting, which is appropriate because God's kingdom will be full of celebration for everyone. Like yesterday's stories the challenge for us is that God calls us to be ready for God's kingdom, but we don't know when it will come. It also feels like it's taking longer than it should. Jesus reminds us that even if it feels like we're waiting for a long time, when the kingdom comes it will come suddenly.

God bless,
Sam

Matthew 25:1-13

¹“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. ²Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. ³When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; ⁴but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. ⁵As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. ⁶But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’

⁷Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ ⁹But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ ¹⁰And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. ¹¹Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ ¹²But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ ¹³Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

a reed swayed by the wind?

Good morning friends,
Jesus starts out by talking about how great John the Baptist is and how special God's ministry is through him. Still, Jesus says, the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John. I've never quite understood that since John serves God's kingdom. Maybe Jesus' point is that when God's kingdom comes in all its fullness, it's beauty and power will dwarf the things and people who point us to God now. Equally challenging is Jesus teaching that until that moment the violent take God's kingdom by force. I guess he means that those in power who want to control people through religion use their power to limit how people can come to God.

That day, he says, is coming to an end. The law and prophets had an important time to speak for God, but now God comes into the world in a new way. John prepares the way for the Messiah, for Jesus, for a new revelation about God's loving kingdom. Jesus urges those who can to hear that word and join God's kingdom movement. Let everyone with ears to hear listen!
God bless,
Sam

Matthew 11:7-15

7As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? 8What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. 9What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10This is the one about whom it is written, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’



11Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. 13For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John came; 14and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15Let anyone with ears listen!

Wake up!

Good morning brothers and sisters,
In our reading for this morning Paul encourages the church in Rome to wake up because the time is near. Paul felt that Christ's return and God's kingdom was right around the corner, that the fulfillment of history was noticeably closer at that point than it had been when the church began. Two thousand years later, we're still waiting, but Paul's urgency has something to teach us. Now is still the time to recommit ourselves to Christ. We don't know when Christ will return, but we know that our lives are short and unpredictable. There's no point putting off living out our calling. Now is the time to take that next step in faith. Now is the time to invite a neighbor to church or to share your faith with a friend. Now is the time to ask God to lead your next step. Now is the time to act on faith.

Advent is about waiting, but it's about waiting expectantly. It is an active waiting, a hopeful waiting. In Advent we look ahead to Christ's return and the coming of God's righteous kingdom. We look back at the birth of Jesus and we prepare for a new birth of hope within us. To help us in this expectant waiting we'll be offering weekly services of prayer and contemplation at Laurelton in the evening. Tonight at 7 is the first of those services. Come from work or from home. There's no need to dress up, just come as you are ready to enjoy some quiet and singing. Come ready to wait with others, to allow the stillness and hope of Christ to fill your heart.

God bless,
Sam

Romans 13:11-14

11Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; 12the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; 13let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

new heavens and a new earth

Good morning brothers and sisters,
The book of Isaiah is actually thought to be several books, but the common theme is God's word to Jerusalem. The Prophet Isaiah himself had his ministry in the 8th century BCE, a time when Jerusalem and the kingdom was doing pretty well in some ways and teetering on the edge of destruction in others. The main idea Isaiah was sent to bring was that Judah's injustice would bring disaster and defeat. This part of the book is roughly Chapters 1-40. Second Isaiah is the second part of the book (Roughly Chapters 40-55) and speaks into the time of Judah's exile in Babylon. Since the people have seen God's judgment first hand, these words are mostly words of comfort and hope for a future in the land as God's people again. Third Isaiah, from chapters 56-66, deals with the people after they have returned to their land and have not found complete renewal. These words are words of challenge and hope that God will complete the work of salvation begun in the Exodus and continued in the liberation from Babylon.

Second and Third Isaiah are often read during Advent because of the promise of God's kingdom and renewal. Our passage from today is one of Third Isaiah's visions of the completion of God's kingdom. We see harmony, abundance, peace and joy as a result of God's closeness. This future sustains us in hard times as we seek God's justice and love in a troubled world today.

God bless and enjoy the beautiful day,
Sam


Isaiah 65:17-25

17For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. 18But be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating; for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight. 19I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and delight in my people; no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it, or the cry of distress. 20No more shall there be in it an infant that lives but a few days, or an old person who does not live out a lifetime; for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth, and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed.

21They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

23They shall not labor in vain, or bear children for calamity; for they shall be offspring blessed by the LORD-and their descendants as well. 24Before they call I will answer, while they are yet speaking I will hear. 25The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox; but the serpent-its food shall be dust! They shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, says the LORD.

using our talents

Good morning friends,
Luke says that Jesus told this parable because people were expecting the kingdom of God to appear immediately. With that introduction, we expect to hear a parable about the kingdom of God. The parable puts that kingdom sometime in the future. The landowner goes to receive royal power. Jesus already has royal power, but it's not obvious. The fullness of power comes to him through the cross and resurrection, but still won't be obvious until he returns again in power at the end of history. During his journey the landowner leaves his servants/slaves with his money to make good use of it. When he returns he judges the efforts of each servant.

The parable invites us to think about how we use our gifts. God gives us different abilities to use while we are alive and before Christ returns in power. We can use them well to make the world a bit more like God's kingdom or we can be fearful and use them poorly or not at all. We can also expect the kingdom to come in the future or reject God's rule. In the end Christ will be king and we will answer for how we used our time and talents.

Blessings on your ministry this week,
Sam

Luke 19:11-27

11As they were listening to this, he went on to tell a parable, because he was near Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. 12So he said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to get royal power for himself and then return. 13He summoned ten of his slaves, and gave them ten pounds, and said to them, ‘Do business with these until I come back.’ 14But the citizens of his country hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to rule over us.’

15When he returned, having received royal power, he ordered these slaves, to whom he had given the money, to be summoned so that he might find out what they had gained by trading. 16The first came forward and said, ‘Lord, your pound has made ten more pounds.’ 17He said to him, ‘Well done, good slave! Because you have been trustworthy in a very small thing, take charge of ten cities.’ 18Then the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your pound has made five pounds.’ 19He said to him, ‘And you, rule over five cities.’

20Then the other came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your pound. I wrapped it up in a piece of cloth, 21for I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man; you take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ 22He said to him, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! You knew, did you, that I was a harsh man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? 23Why then did you not put my money into the bank? Then when I returned, I could have collected it with interest.’ 24He said to the bystanders, ‘Take the pound from him and give it to the one who has ten pounds.’ 25(And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten pounds!’) 26‘I tell you, to all those who have, more will be given; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 27But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and slaughter them in my presence.’”

Spirit for everyone

Good morning brothers and sisters,
In today's reading God promises not only deliverance from the locusts, but good harvests to make up for that devastation. As the nation looks back to an economic disaster God has brought them through, Joel also points them ahead towards the "Day of the Lord." This is the day, some time in the future, when God's power over everything will be revealed. Christians tend to think of this day in terms of the second coming of Christ, but many religions look forward to a time of judgment and fulfillment, when everything wrong will be made right and we will stand at God's throne to account for our lives.

In the Book of Acts when the Holy Spirit comes to all the disciples and they speak in other languages praising God, Peter explains that event by referring to this passage (the second paragraph) from Joel. Joel announces that when the Day of the Lord approaches God will pour out his spirit on everyone. At that time, not only priests and prophets would speak God's word, but everyone. At that time the gates of God's kingdom would open for everyone who calls on God's name. This vision is a natural fit for what Peter experienced on Pentecost. The church's ministry is about welcoming all people into the joy of God's kingdom, and we trust the power of God's Spirit to lead us in that ministry.

God bless,
Sam

Joel 2:23-32

23O children of Zion, be glad and rejoice in the Lord your God; for he has given the early rain for your vindication, he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the later rain, as before. 24The threshing floors shall be full of grain, the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. 25I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent against you. 26You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame. 27You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I, the Lord, am your God and there is no other. And my people shall never again be put to shame.

28Then afterward I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. 29Even on the male and female slaves, in those days, I will pour out my spirit. 30I will show portents in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. 32Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.

thy kingdom come

Good morning all,
As far back as the prophets of the Old Testament people have looked forward to a time when God's kingdom would come and set everything right. For Jewish people of Jesus' time that hope focused on the restoration of the nation of Israel and the end of foreign domination. Jesus saw his ministry as one of announcing that God's kingdom was near. Today, some Pharisees ask Jesus when the kingdom will come.

Jesus answers the question in two ways here: on the one hand, the kingdom is among them now because the kingdom comes in Jesus. Interestingly, the New International Version of the Bible (which is also an excellent translation) translates that sentence: "The kingdom of God is within you." This translation points more towards our participation in God's kingdom by the power of the Holy Spirit, which is also true. Jesus also looks forward to his own return, which we expect to bring in the final victory of God's love and justice. His point here seems to be that there's no need to speculate about times and places, because when he returns it will be obvious to everyone. Our job now is to build up the kingdom now by taking part in God's mission while we look forward to the day when Christ comes in power to set all things right.

God bless,
Sam

Luke 17:20-25

20Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; 21nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you.” 22Then he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23They will say to you, ‘Look there!’ or ‘Look here!’ Do not go, do not set off in pursuit. 24For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. 25But first he must endure much suffering and be rejected by this generation.

kingdom and society

Good morning sisters and brothers,
Here we see Paul trying to fit Christian faith with the prevailing social order. The thing to remember when reading passages like this is that Paul and most leaders of the early church believed that Christ's return and the end of history would come in their lifetime or very soon afterwards. With that viewpoint they had no interest in changing the social order to be more like God's kingdom because God's kingdom was soon going to replace the existing social order anyway. Their priority was reaching as many people as possible with the gospel in the short time that was left. With that goal in mind Paul felt that the less Christianity was seen as opposed to social values, the more likely people would be to hear the message. If Christian slaves were disobedient it would be easy for people to write off Christianity as simply revolutionary talk.

Our framework is different. While we still should live in expectation of God's kingdom, since we don't know when it will come, we also live with the knowledge that it could still be many years until the kingdom is fulfilled. With this knowledge transforming the society of which we are a part so that it is more just and more godly becomes a reasonable, if challenging, goal. So let us strive to make our lives and our areas of influence a better reflection of God's love.

God bless,
Sam

1 Timothy 6:1-5
Let all who are under the yoke of slavery regard their masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be blasphemed. 2Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful to them on the ground that they are members of the church; rather they must serve them all the more, since those who benefit by their service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these duties.

3Whoever teaches otherwise and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that is in accordance with godliness, 4is conceited, understanding nothing, and has a morbid craving for controversy and for disputes about words. From these come envy, dissension, slander, base suspicions, 5and wrangling among those who are depraved in mind and bereft of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.

coming to the kingdom

Good morning all,
I'm off on vacation a little later this morning, but the readings should continue more or less on schedule. I'll be reachable by email or voice mail if you need me. This morning is a challenging reading. On the one hand Jesus talks about the kingdom of God as a mustard seed or a bit of yeast; images that seem to point to it being sometimes hidden but ultimately wide-ranging in influence. On the other hand he uses images of a narrow door and people being locked out of the master's house. These images seem to say that it's hard to get into the kingdom. At the same time that he talks about the people locked out of the kingdom, he also says that people will come from east and west to eat in the kingdom and that many who are last will be first and the first last.

Maybe the idea is less about how difficult it is to get in and more about the surprising people who come to God's kingdom. People we don't expect will be in the kingdom and others who expect that they will be there will not. Jesus spent a lot of his ministry reaching out to people left out by society. He also spent plenty of time criticizing the religious leaders and those society thought well of. God's kingdom isn't set up like our kingdoms and we don't get to chose who's in or out. Like a mustard seed or bit of yeast, the kingdom's presence today is easy to miss. One day the kingdom will be obvious and it will be clear that it is the place to be. Are our words and actions today preparing us to accept God's kingdom? Are we looking for what God is doing today.

Blessings,
Sam


Luke 13:18-30
18He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what should I compare it? 19It is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.” 20And again he said, “To what should I compare the kingdom of God? 21It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.” 22Jesus went through one town and village after another, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem.

23Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” He said to them, 24“Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. 25When once the owner of the house has got up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then in reply he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ 26Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ 27But he will say, ‘I do not know where you come from; go away from me, all you evildoers!’ 28There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrown out. 29Then people will come from east and west, from north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God. 30Indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

worry and trust

Good morning sisters and brothers,
It's been a little while since we read from Luke's Gospel so let's review for a minute. Jesus was invited to a Pharisee's house for dinner, where he took the Pharisees to task for their strict attention to outward practice, while forgetting that a life of faith shapes everything we do. That begins a series of teachings about discipleship and priorities while the crowds grow bigger and bigger. Meanwhile, Jesus' head on confrontation with the Pharisees and religious lawyers leads them to begin plotting his death. Just before today's passage Jesus warned the crowds to guard against selfishness because our love of possessions can distract us from the truly important things in life like doing justice and following God.

Today Jesus complements that warning with encouragement. He encourages us not to worry because God knows what we need already. Worry is pointless, and yet worry and anxiety are two of the most common emotions in our culture today. We feel out of control and we worry about having enough to maintain our life style. We worry about the environment and the economy and the future. This passage invites us to do two things. The first is to consider how we spend our energy, and what our priorities are. God calls us to pursue connection with him, community, justice and love. If most of our energy is directed somewhere else we might be going in the wrong direction. This passage also invites us to trust in God, who will provide for us. That's a word I know I need to hear often, along with Jesus' invitation to seek first the kingdom of God. May God give us the strength to trust him.

God bless,
Sam


Luke 12:22-31
22He said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. 23For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? 26If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest?

27Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 28But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. 30For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

demons and kingdoms

Good morning friends,
Our reading picks up from where Sunday's reading left off: Jesus taught the disciples how to pray and promised that God would always give the Holy Spirit to those who ask. It's unclear if today's conversation takes place in the same place or if there is a break between that conversation and this one. Jesus' opponents accuse him of casting out demons by Satan's power. Jesus responds that a house divided against itself can't stand, and suggests instead that his exorcism is a sign of God's kingdom among them.

To go along with this point Jesus tells two stories, one a parable about a strong man guarding his home and the other about the fate of the cast out demon. What do you think the point of the story of the strong man is? Why does Jesus tell the story of the exiled demon? How does a healed person avoid the fate of the healed person in this story? May we have eyes to see signs of God's kingdom around us today.

God bless,
Sam

Luke 11:14-26
14Now he was casting out a demon that was mute; when the demon had gone out, the one who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed. 15But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.” 16Others, to test him, kept demanding from him a sign from heaven.

17But he knew what they were thinking and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself becomes a desert, and house falls on house. 18If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? —for you say that I cast out the demons by Beelzebul. 19Now if I cast out the demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 20But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you. 21When a strong man, fully armed, guards his castle, his property is safe. 22But when one stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his plunder. 23Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

24“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through waterless regions looking for a resting place, but not finding any, it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25When it comes, it finds it swept and put in order. 26Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and live there; and the last state of that person is worse than the first.”