Author: Lowell Grisham

There is a spiritual paradox. Often when we feel most lost — vulnerable, threatened, needy — that’s the time when God is most active in our lives.

O Judge of the nations, we remember before you with grateful hearts the men and women of our country who in the day of decision ventured much for the liberties we now enjoy. Grant that we may not rest until all the people of this land share the benefits of true freedom and gladly accept its disciplines. This we ask in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

She says most of the people whose tax returns she prepares complain mightily about their circumstances. They don’t have enough money. Their taxes are too high. Often they haven’t withheld enough through the year or made quarterly payments. They are strained on April 15. Some are living beyond their means.

The kingdom of God “is like a mustard seed…

The kingdom of God “is like yeast…

“Call me no longer Naomi, (the name means ‘Pleasant’)

call me Mara, (‘Bitter’)

for the Almighty has dealt bitterly with me…

This morning we rise with prayer in our hearts for those affected by the terrible tornadoes yesterday and last night.

Among the ancient texts passed down to us from Alcuin is the Collect for Purity which our Book of Common Prayer places at the beginning of the Holy Eucharist. In earlier times, it was a prayer used by clergy for their preparation before worship. But it was a prayer too good to be kept in the sacristy, and became part of our common worship in Anglican tradition.

You can feel the elitism in this gospel passage. A Pharisee has asked Jesus to his home for a meal. Maybe he is one of those liberal and tolerant Pharisees who is reaching out to the peasant rabbi Jesus. Jesus should feel himself honored…

Jesus tells us how to live within the values and vision of God’s Kingdom which he has inaugurated as Messiah. He tells us how to live as citizens of that Kingdom.

But more than that, we are told to live this way because this is how God is.

If good people, righteous people can be unjustly accused and wrongly condemned to death, where is justice?

What is God’s answer to evil? One possible answer is that if there is life after death, God will right all wrongs in that afterlife.