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Following a question by Peter as to how often he is supposed to forgive someone, Jesus goes into a parable of a king who called his servants into account. We'd call it an audit today. And, one servant was found to owe ten thousand talents, a lot of money. But he begged the king forgiveness, and the king forgave him. But the servant wanted to press severely for payment of a fellow-servant whose debt amounted to pocket change. What the king does as a result shows that we will see the level of mercy we give to others.

One of the more interesting parables is the one about the king who puts on a wedding feast for his son. We know how he set up the feat, we know about the invited guests who snubbed him, and we know about the people, good and bad, that he brought in from the highways as replacement guests. But how many of us have looked at the guest who was not wearing a wedding garment? Understand that, and you'll know what awaits if you accept!

One of the most important points of the New Testament, and of Jesus' ministry. "Ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full". That might not be as you imagined it, or times ad you hoped, but it does promise that it will be. There's no discussion here about "God's will", "God's time", or "God's higher plan". Simply ask, and it shall be given unto you.

I have a hard time with the Epistle reading here, and not because of what it says. My issue is what some people claim that it says. At the time St Peter wrote this, the world known to him was governed by Rome, and it was relatively just. And, there were no persecutions. Is such a pronouncement of advice all-inclusive? What of unjust situations. Should civil rights demonstrators stayed silent because segregation was the law? For that matter, should the Pilgrims who settled in Massachusetts have instead stayed in England and affirmed their loyalty to the Church of England, since it was England's only lawful church at the time? Just laws are just and deserve to be followed. But we don't need to follow injustice in the name of scripture.

This Gospel reading is a favorite of mine. Do you notice that Jesus refers to himself, and only himself, as the shepherd? The rest are hirelings and no matter what might be suggested in some people's titles, the fact remains that all are hirelings. Something useful to keep certain people in perspective. Here is also where Jesus speaks of other sheep he3 has which are "not of this fold". He does not say how many other folds there are, or how many other sheep there are, and he makes no claim that they have anything in common with the people he's addressing here! And this gives hope to many who have not been marching in lock-step behind one particular leader. So much to know, and so much to prepare to learn!

Here, the Gospel and Epistle readings are nicely tied together. The Gospel focuses on the aftermath of the crucifixion when the disciples have locked themselves away out of fear, and Jesus comes to them. Jesus then gives them peace, authority and a mission. In the Epistle, we are told of how we are able to overcome the world because of what we have now. SPECIAL NOTE: We're back, and hopefully you'll like the changes. The first is a special prayer section just before the Last Gospel to remember and pray for loved ones who have passed.

The Epistle reading for today is one which I consider to be one of the most abused and mis-used passages in the entire Bible! Does it mean, for instance, that Rosa Parks was supposed to give up her seat on the bus to a white man? Does it mean that minorities should have quietly obeyed the Jim Crow laws that enforced segregation? Should Jews have quietly gone to concentration camps? I don't think so! At the time St Paul wrote this, he was a proud citizen of Rome. Rome had treated him well. He had no way of knowing that rulers such as Nero and Caligula were in the future. He did have to worry about some folks who thought that with the coming of Christ being so soon to come, they did not have to concern themselves with mundane authorities.

Much has been said about this inauguration, but I feel it might be wise to take a moment and offer some basic principles in which most of us will agree. And, for the sake of those calling themselves "Christian", what Jesus and his initial followers taught. Considering the principles upon which the United States was founded, it might do us well to review them. Jesus had much to say, but it is worth noting what he and his followers did not mention. Notice that and see its significance, and you'll have learned a major lesson. Next, look at how Jesus taught and whom he ministered to, and you'll see more - including a point which some people today don't seem to get! I cannot go through a Holy Communion without it being a spiritual experience, and this was a major one!

The Feast of the Circumcision marks Jesus' first rite of passage, this being from a baby to a child. This was also the time when he was given his name, which had been chosen for him. Also, we can't lose sight of the shepherds who were among the first to know of the birth. They let it be known that something wonderful had happened, and so probably everyone in the area had heard. This was Jesus' beginning, especially as far a Hebrew law was concerned.

The message of Christmas is a message of fulfillment. The time was right, and it came to be. Some factors at the time were more favorable than they ever had been or would be again for centuries. God's will was, and is, for our well-being. And it was all by God's plan. Let us never forget that, even though those are some clever catch-phrases sometimes used to disguise the ugly motivations of some people. This is the beginning of the fulfillment, and more will be. In fact, it continues to this day.

The Gospel reading for this Sunday has a special "treat" for conspiracy theorists and those who want to explore history beyond what your teacher taught. When the religious leaders sent priests and Levites to ask John the Baptist who he was and what could be expected of him, John replied by telling them that one among them would come and be gfreater than him. Does this tell us something more, including what happened to Jesus between the Finding In The Temple and his baptism by John?

Interestingly, the Pagan holiday of Samhain in the Northern Hemisphere coincides with All Saint's Day and All Souls' Day. And in the Southern Hemisphere it coincides with Walpurgis Night. While there are those who would make accusations of copying holidays, we need to consider the likelihood that different people might be looking at the same thing from their own perspective. The book of Revelation shows even more, with the inclusion beyond the elite 144,000. Beyond them, there was a group which nobody could number, in white robes and holding palms. So much for those who would like to make us feel defeated. For some reason, this was a difficult service to do, including a physical illness and a few other things. But here it is, including some special prayers included for the benefit of those we love who have crossed over.

Here is one of the more over-interpreted Epistle readings, and the fact is that it is really very straightforward. For all of the extra "stuff" some might want to add, the answer is simply to use the protection you have been given to keep yourself from danger. Understand that sin is really about, and you'll understand. We don't want to replace something that's worth the effort with some "quickie" that only brings brief gratification.

Get the point of this Gospel reading, and you'll find everything else falling into place! You hear it every Holy Communion, because it's one of the first things the priest says. And now, you see why. The Pharisees had their piles of rules, and Jesus had two commandments which covered them all

A pair of readings which drive home a point which many miss. In the Gospel reading, Jesus comes upon a funeral procession for a widow's only son. Her only son dying would condemn a widow to destitution. Jesus brings her son back from the dead, and the people are overwhelmed by that happening. In the Epistle, St Paul wishes the Ephesians to be able to comprehend with all saints the breadth, length, depth and height and know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge. Imagine how much that must be compared to our own knowledge!

Here we have a pair of readings with essentially the same message: Don't get hung up on the wrong stuff! It's an easy trap to fall into, and we don't need it. In the Epistle, we're reminded of the various people who would love to have us "jump through hoops" for one reason or another, even if it is not necessary. Such people are on power trips that we do not need to feed. In the Gospel, we hear an often mis-used verse about the lilies of the field, but it is valid to use in terms of a line in a prayer which we all know. When we say "Give us this day our daily bread" we ask to be fed today, but without concern about tomorrow's bread which will come when it is due. It's the simple fact that mammon is physical wealth, and people cannot worship both God and physical wealth. Seek the Kingdom of God, and you can also have the rest.

We're back, and there's all the more reason to distribute sacraments along with potential controversy! How many people actually get what Jesus was telling us? Paul certainly did! The legalism of the Old Testament, especially The Law, was a stumbling-block for people. And I'm sure that most of us can think of something we were never attracted to until someone tried to prohibit it! And that's the reason for the Kingdom of Heaven and the Spirit. And if we follow the Spirit, the fruits of the Spirit will exclude the fruits of The Law, giving us something far greater!

Here's more potential controversy! At any rate, it won't sit well with some folks. In the Epistle, Paul points out that the same grace is given to all. This extends from those who were closest to Jesus, such as Peter, to those like Paul who had once persecuted Jesus' followers. The gospel points out another basic fact, that being that excessive pride does not bring grace. A Pharisee and a tax collector went to pray in the temple. The Pharisee was supposedly a paragon of righteousness, while the tax collector was seen as a crook. But who was it that went home justified?

HEAVY RELEVANT STUFF ALERT: The Gospel reading is one most of us know, but deserves being refreshed in our mind from time to time. This is especially true in time of elections, or any other time when politicians or others are posturing themselves and claiming what "good Christians" they are. If you know a tree by its fruits, please understand that you do not have to wait for the harvest to see if the fruit is good or bad. If someone wants to claim to be a "good Christian", see how they measure up to the example which Christ himself set! There was someone who would minister to lepers, publicans and all kinds of other outcasts. While his neighbors detested Samaritans, Jesus ministered to them, and even journeyed through their country.

Again, what seems to be a difficult Gospel verse that you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees and the scribes. But, what does it mean? The Pharisees and scribes devoted their lives to following all of the rules. Do we have to out-do them in following nitpicky rules, or is there something greater that they missed? And with that, Jesus shows us what is at the heart of genuine righteousness.

Today's Gospel reading is one that many feel they know, but some don't really grasp. Look at the words in the King James Version and not some popular paraphrase, and you see the promise that you will be given as you give. Don't judge, and you won't be judged. Don't condemn, and you won't be condemned. In other words, you're off the hook so long as you don't put someone else on the hook! This is a great idea in so many ways. To begin with, how much do we know about the greater scheme of things, in the full breadth of God's vision? Not much, as I see it. And we can stay out of trouble by not making judgments about anything we do not know the full facts about.

Today the Gospel offers us a scene we see too often, where the "better people" don't seem to want to deal with "those people", meaning the outcasts of society. And, Jesus seems to sense that the so-called outcasts might not always have been outcasts. Jesus spoke to them using parables in ways that they would know from their own lives. And it's a lesson many of us will do well to remember.

More basis for what we've been saying! John points out the importance of our loving each other, even if the world hates us. After all, whose opinion counts, people who don't care except to mess with you, or God and those you share with? John also points out that love is not found in empty words, but in the substance and reality of what we do for each other. And if we can manage that, who knows how much will come to be ours!

MORE CONTROVERSY! Or, at least, some will think so. In the Epistle for today, we see John speaking about love. John was both a disciple and an apostle, and he was with Jesus when he ministered to all kinds of people, from the elite to the outcasts and even outsiders. We have no record of Jesus denying anything to anyone, not even the woman of Canaan, an outsider. In light of that and what John says about love, it is obvious that love is not merely important, it is central to Christianity. This should be sufficient answer to those who try to claim that hate is a Christian value!

Some excitement here! Nicodemus, high-up in the religious establishment of the time, visits Jesus by night. Jesus makes three revelations to him which are part of our lives to this day! The first two deal with what needs to happen to see the Kingdom of God, and then what needs to happen to enter the Kingdom of God. The third and final revelation deals with receiving what has been placed before you to learn. Does this mean you are nearer than you thought? Or does it mean you have more to do?

POTENTIAL CONTROVERSY CONTINUES! One of the last things Jesus said to his followers: "If you love me, keep my commandments." In other words, do what he taught. There is much to be said here because even if what he offered was a major simplification of the former rules, it was revolutionary. It also went beyond the bounds of most people's imagination. Can you imagine what can be ours if we actually master this?

MORE CONTROVERSY! In the tenth chapter of Matthew, Jesus said that he did not come to bring peace, but a sword. In today's Gospel reading, he explains what he means. Jesus knew that following him would not be easy. It would come to the point that people would kill Jesus' followers while thinking that they are serving God! It does not take much of an effort to see how this might apply today.

MORE CONTROVERSY! For all that some people talk about "God's will", you'd not expect Jesus to say "Ask and ye shall receive that your joy may be full". We have to understand this in terms of common sense, of course, but we can also remember that God is indeed God, and He might know some things. If the lack of something makes a void in your heart, wouldn't God know that? And wouldn't He want to do something about it?

CONTROVERSY ALERT! This Gospel reading seems to be one of the most important and also most ignored in the Bible! Jesus says "I have yet many things to say to you, but ye cannot bear them now." Does that mean that he has more to say, and what he has to say won't be found in the Bible we own? If so, then where do we get this additional learning that Jesus has for us? He gives us a clue to that, too!

The Epistle reading for today is one of the most mis-interpreted and mis-used in the entire Bible. It speaks of the importance of obeying secular authorities, such as kings and governors. Or, does it? Does it mean, as some would interpret it, that unjust laws are to be obeyed? Does it mean that people in Nazi occupied territories should have obeyed Hitler? Does it mean that people in the segregated South should have simply obeyed segregationist laws? I would hope not! It does speak of the importance of fitting in to our communities, and not being people whose obstinacy and obnoxiousness keeps us from being part of society. At the time of the writing, the Christians were trying to become part of the society of the time.

This Sunday's Gospel reading is one of the most powerful, and it can be difficult to see where to focus a sermon. It includes the words of how he has "sheep which are not of this fold", which is a good verse to inspire controversy! But perhaps more significant is how he speaks of himself as the shepherd and others as the hireling. And please note that nowhere in the New Testament does Jesus appoint anyone else as shepherd. In fact, his command to Peter is "Feed my sheep". While there are some really wonderful hirelings, we need to beware of those who would claim to be shepherds.

The Gospel for this week is a follow-on to last Sunday's Gospel. Then, people who came to Jesus' tomb in the early morning found the tomb empty. Now, it is the evening of the same day, and the disciples are locked in a room, hiding from the people frenzied by the religious powers-that-were in those days. Locked door or no, Jesus is suddenly there with them. He not only proves that it's really him, he gives them their basic mission, one which we have to this day.

The Gospel reading is a story that we're familiar with, but have we really looked at what the story is telling us? Mary Magdalene came to the tomb before dawn, and found the stone rolled away. Did she cheer because Jesus had risen as he said he would? No, she worried that someone had stolen his body. Next, she ran to some disciples who were on their own way to the tomb. One disciple looked into the tomb and saw the burial clothes without the body. Another walked into the tomb, found the shroud laid in one place, and the napkin which had covered his head neatly placed somewhere else in the tomb. And they went home. A great gift has been presented to them, and the ones closest to Jesus did not recognize it!

The gospel reading for today is by far one of the longest in the church year, and for the most part, it is one of the better known. But, the Bible often presents more than is obvious, and this is no exception. Two details reveal that there is much more to be known. That the Temple veil was torn in two says much. But, the veil was not some flimsy fabric. It was a thick, heavy cloth which separated the Holy of Holies from everyone and everything else. If it was torn from top to bottom, it did not happen easily and it might imply something about the relationship between people and God. That the earthquake caused graves to open and the people in those graves to come alive and appear to people in Jerusalem had to have a powerful implication. Jesus would do that himself soon, but there is no story of it happening before. What might this mean? Some powerful questions for us to ponder!

The Gospel and Epistle readings for today present a bit of a dilemma, because both are begging to be known and proclaimed! The Gospel contains a line known to many, but a puzzle to most. Some of the more fundamentalist Christians are not comfortable that the explanation of that line can be found in Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity! But then there is the Epistle reading which emphasizes how all of those sacrifices atoned for sins under the Old Testament's regime of rules and punishment, we now have an inheritance and the Kingdom of God!

A very basic lesson we need to understand is the importance of giving God a chance to fulfill a promise. And so, we have the story of Isaac and Ishmael. This is not a case of waiting for "God's time", but rather the fullness of time. God promised Abraham that his wife Sarah would give birth to a son who would be named Isaac. But Sarah did not believe she could have a child at her age, and so he let Abraham use her servant Hagar as a surrogate. Hagar gave birth to Ishmael, who was given a different inheritance than the one promised to Isaac.

As I see it, the Epistle reading could have been written today. Look at the hatred, division and fear being spread by people who claim to be Christian, and you see what I mean. We follow a god of love and light, not of darkness, envy and greed. The people to whom Paul was writing these remarks apparently needed reminding, and so do some folks we know.

The gospel reading for today contains a hint, perhaps the first for us, of Jesus' intent for his ministries, first on earth and then for later. The "woman of Canaan" was indeed of lower status than even a Samaritan, but it goes beyond that. She was an outright foreigner to the Jews of Jesus' time. Elsewhere, in John's gospel, just before the Passover in Jerusalem, some Greeks seek to meet Jesus. When Jesus hears of it, he knows that his time has come. This gives us some clue as to what he knew and his intent.

A point made in today's Epistle that some folks dismiss as obvious, but so many miss entirely. There is a basic need that we not receive God's grace in vain! This issue is not limited to Christians, either. I've seen the same issue in every spiritual path I've studied. How often do we see folks going off in their own peculiar direction, and only giving lip service to the actual teachings? A good thought to begin with on Lent!

Of all that we do, there is one element which makes our efforts precious or worthless! The epistle forces a challenge on us. Do we want to make a bunch of noise, or do we want to actually accomplish something? One factor is the difference. And that difference is a word some folks today don't really understand. This can be a challenge for some people, especially when we see what that one factor is like, and particularly when we see what it is particularly not like. But knowing this, we can build!

Here we have the story of the householder who hired people to work in his field. He hired all he could at the beginning of the day, but then he came back again at the 6th, 9th and 11th hour, hiring those who were waiting for jobs then. At the end of the day, he gave those who were hired last the same pay as those who had been working all day. When someone voiced an objection, the householder had a reply. We can take some comfort in this. Those of us who were born too late to suffer persecutions go on crusades, or cast a shadow in the reformations will still have our rewards for the work which we did do.

The Gospel reading is the opening of the Gospel of Mark, setting the tone for the rest of what some consider to be the most reader-friendly of the gospels. And we can only begin to fathom the power of the last part of the reading: "Thou art my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased." With that, we know who Jesus is, and his authority. Of course, we might hear similar words again.

The Gospel reading for today is familiar to most of us, but how many people have really examined it for what it is trying to tell? At twelve, Jesus is probably considered a man by virtue of having completed his Bar Mitzvah and so this is his first visit to the Temple as an adult. But what is such a young man doing, occupying so many of the learned doctors in heavy discussion for three days? The answer to this, including some speculation on my part, shows some insight into what might be coming for him.

The reading in place of the Epistle is from the prophecy of Isaiah. In it, Isaiah speaks of the coming of the Christ. And with it, Isaiah teaches one of the main points which some people seem to miss: fulfillment. Mercy and redemption are also important points, but first it must be established that promises will be fulfilled at the appointed time. And with that, we can begin to build our faith!

In many traditions, and beginning today here, we end the Holy Communion with words from the beginning of the Gospel of John, and today we hear the end of that same gospel. And we see here a problem beginning even before the Ascension which we so often see today. It appears word got out that one special disciple would not die until Jesus returned. When asked about that, Jesus replied "what is it to you?" Have we experienced being misquoted? Might it be a good idea to understand what is being said?

Time for eyes open! The Pharisees sent people to ask John The Baptist who he was. And, they asked him specifically certain names and titles. In all cases, he denied being Elijah, "that prophet" or anyone else they had in mind. Instead, he spoke about someone else coming, one among them whom they didn't know. We know from elsewhere in the Bible who John was, but he was wise in not admitting that for a good reason. He had a job to do, and he was not letting his own identity get in the way. And this might give us an idea of what to watch for today!

Today's lessons remind me of when I was a young boy and my mother was admonishing me to "look both ways", which this pair of lesson seems to be doing. In the Epistle, we are warned about making judgements before we have all of the evidence. But then in the Gospel, we have another situation. First, John the Baptist's disciples ask him if he is the one everyone was waiting for, and Jesus tells them to tell John of what they've seen. And then, he poses another question to the multitude which had been following him: What did they go to see when they went to see John? In the first instance, we're given a situation in which not all of the evidence is in. But in the second, it is time to realize what's going on because the evidence is there!

Perhaps more controversy? What Jesus meant by "This generation shall not pass away till all be fulfilled" is subject to discussion, but the rest is very apparent. And, he wants us to be aware. People tend to be afraid of something they do not understand, and so he tells us, so that we will know. And we can understand when we see it coming.

CONTROVERSY ALERT! In this Epistle reading, St Paul hits the nail on the head, supported by a piece of Gospel scripture most folks probably don't know. Why don't they know? Because nobody had the nerve to tell them about it! Paul tells the people that love is the fulfilling of The Law. Do that, and you'll fulfill The Law without worrying about the nitpicking. Not only that, Luke 16:16 shows Jesus saying "The Law and The Prophets were until John: since that time the Kingdom of God is preached and every man presseth into it."

Another one of those stories which people believe that they understand, this one the loaves and fishes feeding the multitudes. Philip answered with the mundane answer, as Jesus asked him. Andrew had another response, but not quite enough. Jesus knew what he was doing, though, and the meal produced more leftovers than the food they had to begin with! This was following several other similar miracles which Jesus performed as he was traveling. Could it be that the effort here was to get people's attention to what was happening beyond feeding five thousand?

Another secret in plain sight! There are two stories in the Gospel reading that you probably remember well. But did you notice the story within the story that actually has the biggest impact? Look for this, if you want to learn what faith is about! Yes, it's a biggie. And no, most folks don't even realize that it's here!