Matthew 13:31-35, 44-52 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” When I and my family lived in Hot Spring, Arkansas we went one day to visit the only diamond-producing site in the world open to the public: Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas. In 2006, the year we went, someone found... Read more
Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 The parable of the wheat and the tares seems so self-explanatory that I know there must be more to it. We all understand that He who sows the good seed is the Son, that the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, and that the tares are the sons of the evil one. We know as well that the enemy who sowed them is the evil one himself. We know that in this world there is... Read more
Matthew 13:1-23 How do you think of yourself compared to other people? Would you say that in the grand scheme of things you are blessed, or that life’s been a little unfair to you? Maybe you’re in debt, and you’re not quite sure how you got there, but it doesn’t seem to be your fault. Maybe you struggle with a physical infirmity, or maybe you’re in the middle of a difficult relationship. Your life may seem rather dreary and humdrum... Read more
Matthew 12:31-50 There is a lot of attention paid to the Holy Family, especially at Christmas, and rightfully so. Mary, in particular, gets an extra measure of devotion from both Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians. And so today I want to talk about the Holy Family, which is the family of God. I can’t say that I have a lot of insights into what went on in Jesus’ family when He was growing up. I know what you know: about... Read more
Matthew 12:14-30 This Jesus is a mystery! He must have especially seemed a mystery to the first century Jews who encountered Him. He does miracles that make people believe in Him, but when people demand a miracle, He doesn’t do one. He does spectacular, divine things, and then He warns you not to tell anyone about what He’s done – as if you could contain it within in you, as if people aren’t going to hear anyway, as if one... Read more
Matthew 12:1-13 What are we to do with the Sabbath? Jesus actually has some things to say about the Sabbath, although He teaches about it mostly indirectly. This is a question that has vexed Christians for 2000 years. At one extreme, Christians have insisted that there is just about nothing we can do on the Sabbath, except go to church services. No work, no card games, no dancing, no reading of novels, no temporal pleasures, no parish gatherings called “church-ales,”... Read more
Matthew 11:20-30 “Come unto Me, all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you.” Those who are used to the traditional Book of Common Prayer will recognize this verse (Matthew 11:28) as one of the 4 Comfortable Words that are said by the priest to the congregation after the General Confession of Sin and Absolution. And so, after hearing the difficult words of Jesus earlier in the chapter and in chapter 10, and bearing my own... Read more
Matthew 11:2-19 “Are you the Coming One, or do we look for another?” It seems like a clear and straightforward question. I don’t know why, but I expect a clear and straightforward answer, you know, something like: “Yes, I am Jesus, the Messiah, the Coming One, the King of the Jews, the Son of God, Yahweh. Any other questions?” But as He almost always does, Jesus surprises me. What He actually says is: “Go and tell John the things which... Read more
Matthew 10:16-31 I feel like Jonah running away. I saw what today’s lesson was in Matthew 10 and ran smack dab in the middle of the difficult sayings of Jesus. I thought about talking only about verses 30 and 31: they seemed pretty safe. Whenever Jesus spends time with His disciples, He gives them a radical call – to deny self, to give up the world, and to give up everything for Him. The original call that Jesus gave to... Read more
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Monday of Trinity 18 – Matthew 13:53-14:12
Matthew 13:53-14:12 It just wasn’t right, you know. My master was a great man, he was a good man. It just wasn’t right for things to end this way. All his life he had this burning passion to do the will of YHWH. He had taken the vows of the Nazarite and had kept them his entire life. He took on the mantle of Elijah and willingly subjected himself to the scorn and laughter of the insiders. He was, in... Read more