Presbymom

  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 ...

  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...