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The Wrong Kind of Guy

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  Sometimes it feels like Jesus’ parables were in an accidental order a hodgepodge – but then take a step back and look at the order and content. The grouping in chapter 18 before these verses deals with:   An unjust judge who grants a widow justice because she is persistent, a pharisee who thought he was righteous - and a tax collector who knelt at Jesus feet begging for mercy knowing he was a sinner, he is the one who Jesus says is justified. We also hear the parable of the rich man who followed the law but couldn’t give away all his belongings and is then told it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God. A blind man at the gates of Jericho had such strong faith that Jesus tells him his faith has healed him. And now – we enter Jericho having listened to parables about righteousness, wealth, and mercy. Maybe we have it figured out – let’s see.  Luke 19:1-10 (NRSVue)   He entered Jericho and was ...
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AI and God

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  As I sat in a frozen community this week, I was restricted to an electronic world and communication through screens. Yet, I found a few forgotten friends and a few new ones.     Technology warned me before the storm to prepare!    My daughter thanks Alexa after an interaction is finished – “you just never know” she says.    Science fiction abounds with horror and fantasy of artificial intelligence becoming human – enhancing or replacing us as the wise dominant species of the known world. As a pastor who began my career in artificial intelligence (AI), it brings me pause as our world shrinks, bends and redefines what we ‘know’.   This week that took the form of articles on AI writing sermons. Is this ethical? Effective? Helpful or the end of church as we know it? The concept of papers being written by this other intelligence was safely removed from my realm of existence until it wasn’t. I happily type along and let my word processor correct my sp...
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The Blessed Invisibles

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This second Sunday of Advent , that yearly season of waiting, we look to first things. The Good News, the baby is coming. How do the gospels start the story of the good news – the blessed story of Jesus among us? Matthew begins with a genealogy and an angel convincing Joseph not to divorce Mary. Mark begins with John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness of one to come and then Jesus’ baptism John – begins with - In the beginning was the Word and eventually gets to John foretelling one to come after whose sandals he is not worthy to tie. It’s no wonder so much of our beloved memories of The story come from Luke – we have heard that the elderly couple Zechariah and Elizabeth are expecting a baby and an angel has appeared to Mary. After being told not to be afraid by an angel, we join the story. Listen to the living word from  Luke 1:39-55 (NIV) 39  At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,  40  where she entered Zechariah’s home...
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The Scandal of Grace

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  Last week we looked at the call from Jesus for us to repent – or you will perish – you will be lost. This week, our scripture centers around Jesus telling parables to Pharisees, tax collectors and sinners parables. A set of three parables- one about a lost sheep, one about a lost coin and now one about a lost son. Listen to the living Word from   Luke 15:1-3 and 11b-32   15  Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus.  2  But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3  Then Jesus told them this parable:… “There was a man who had two sons.   12  The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’   So he divided his property   between them. 13  “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth   in wild living.   14  A...
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Worth It!

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  Historically, it is hard to pinpoint the exact events referred to by this scripture, but it isn’t hard to imagine Pilate being so murderously cruel or a natural disaster striking unexpectedly. Today’s reading hits very close to home. Jesus has been teaching and some of the listeners are distracted by recent events the slaughter of innocents by a cruel ruler is in the headlines. When that is too much to bear, an earthquake takes more live. Like us, those following Jesus plea to know why. Oh my God, why? Listen to the living word of God from     Luke 13:1-9 At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.   2 He asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans?   3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did.   4 Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell o...
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