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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.