The meaning of our parable for today seems obvious. God gives each of us talents (yes our word “talent” comes from the Greek word talanton the name of the Greek coin) and we are to do something with them.
Read MoreIt seems that Matthew was worried that many Christians were wandering off and not attending to the community, to worship, and answering the call of God. Matthew wanted his readers to see that being a Christian was not a one time once-a-week thing but entailed their whole life.
Read MoreIt was in those struggles about family, life, health, and faith where you were blessed by God. Think about it. It was not to the powerful or the rich that Jesus came but to those who society left behind, tax collectors and sinners.
Read MoreEach year, when we read these texts on Reformation I always seem to focus on how the Jews in our gospel are able to say that they had never been in bondage. Note these are those who are following Jesus. Could they not see how their own lives did not live up to God’s expectation? Were they so used to the way things were that they had no desire to reform their lives? That is what today is about reforming our lives around Go
Read MoreWhile we may argue over the amount of taxes and who should pay, we accept that principle [“No taxation without representation]. But that is not the question that we need to answer here. That question is, “What is God’s?”
Read MoreTogether these two parables are reminding Christians that they are invited to a banquet of great joy in the kingdom of God. That invitation also calls them to a new life. A life of repentance. We all know that a look at our lives will show that we are not worthy of the invitation. We are those who have been invited last.
Read MoreThat difficult work of sharing love to a world in great need of it but who often refuses it because something else is desired -- that is where our love song comes in.
Read MoreWe do not always answer God’s call or do his will. Often we answer our own will and convince ourselves that it is God’s. Other times we just do the opposite because that is what we desire.
Read MoreWhat we are reminded of here is that when God calls people into his kingdom he calls them to work. The second point that Jesus makes here is that there is always room for others to work and so he invites everyone who is willing to come in and work in the kingdom.
Read MoreThe question is, “have you forgiven those who have sinned against you?” Look carefully at your own words and deeds, it seems that your forgiveness may depend on how you have (or have not) forgiven others.
Read MoreThis may be a difficult lesson to learn in our selfish world of today where people think that they can do whatever they want without any concern of how their actions affect others. Matthew tells us the opposite of this (as did Paul). We are called to be concerned about others. We are to be careful that our actions do not cause others to sin. We are also called to point out to others how they have sinned, knowing full well that we too are not perfect and have sinned against others.
Read MoreJust last week we heard Jesus call [Peter] a rock. This week Jesus calls him a stumbling block. How can that be? Luther had a phrase for that: simul justus et peccator – simultaneous saint and sinner.
Read MoreNoting that it was not Peter who came up with his confession but God’s Spirit, we wonder if Matthew is reminding all that it is God who calls the church together and that God chooses even those who are weak, afraid, and make mistakes; that it is upon the faith given by God that builds the church.
Read MoreWhat we say and how we say it is important in the life of a Christian. We are to be careful that our words do not offend but also we need to make sure that we correct those who are wrong – even those in authority as Jesus shows by correcting the Pharisees and the woman by correcting Jesus.
Read More“They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” After the meal they do have something to give – twelve full baskets. — God has filled your basket full and now calls you to go out and help feed the people who are in need.
Read MoreIn our science-minded world where we have unlocked many of the secrets of life, we lose the wonder of the story because we know what yeast is and how seeds grow. But for the people Jesus taught they saw God working in the seed and the yeast. It is God who will grow the kingdom and the mustard shrub. Jesus is saying, “Do your part. Do not worry. God will take care of the growth.”
Read MoreThis was because God did not want to take the chance of harming one faithful person by removing the evil ones. That means we grow together. You know what that means. You have experienced the weeds growing among us and maybe have been influenced by them in your lives. Remember this is just a parable – it does not say once a weed always a weed.
Read MoreThat is the power of teaching with parables. We all bring our own story to Jesus’ stories and hear, by the help of the Holy Spirit, what we need to hear in our lives at that juncture.
Read MoreAn apropos reminder in our time where we are dealing with a novel virus and old attitudes about others. If we fall back on how things used to be, if we strive to return to the old ways we will fail. We are called to approach these troubling times with open minds and, more importantly, hearts.
Read MoreThe reward for welcoming others comes from Jesus. Therefore they can receive others as if they were receiving Jesus. But, more importantly, they could proclaim Jesus by how they receive others. They may give them a drink of water – life giving water.
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