That [first Christmas] celebration was not filled with gifts, friends, family, or feast. Instead it was darkness, fear, and curiosity, giving way to wonder. “Let us go and see this thing that has taken place.”
Read MoreThus Luke’s message may be that God is present in all of our lives. It does not matter who you are or how old you are, God calls you to God’s kingdom and gives you a task to do.
Read MoreWe also struggle to make sense of a world turned upside- down because of the Covid-19 virus. While governments try to decide how to save lives others complain about their rights. In a world where people think it is alright to send death threats because things did not go the way they wanted, we hear Jesus echoing Isaiah’s words. Words of comfort, but also words of action. We are called, as God’s people not to act out of selfish desires but in order to help others.
Read MoreGod did not make the Israelites return to the promised land free and easy. In fact, as last week’s text from Isaiah showed, it was hard work and struggle. What God is offering here is to change the rules of the game. God is promising a new way to salvation.
Read MoreEvery generation of God’s people have had their own questions and struggles and darkness.
Read MoreWhile judgment is based on feeding the hungry, giving the thirsty a drink, welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked, taking care of the sick, and visiting those in prison, salvation is much deeper. Jesus is telling us that performing these acts should be second nature to us
Read MoreThe 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.
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