Father Snort

The blessings and woes from Jesus are not so much a description for how to become a saint (get a low paying job), so much as they are a description of God who brings blessing to those who are not otherwise blessed, God who redeems the cursed, God who brings the dead to life and will remake all of creation.

Jesus preached against trusting in our own righteousness. The flip side of this coin is that we needn't earn our own worth. We have worth as God's children and get to partner with God in restoring creation.

Pray always and don't lose heart. God will write his law in our hearts.

"It's not the end of the world." This helpful expression is often used to allow people to realize their problems really aren't all that terrible. Jesus encourages us to seek gratitude and to live with grateful hearts...realizing even the actual end of the world will be redeemed.

The world doesn't owe us anything because we are disciples of Jesus. If another activity conflicts with our worship, the decision is our as to whether we will worship or participate in the other activity. Our discipleship is ours to live and to master, no one else's.

Paul encourages us to be content with what we have. Jesus warns those with more than they need to share what they have with those who have very little, or there will be hell to pay...for those with very little.

Use what you have for the well being of others. Even crooks can serve others when it benefits the crook. How much more would disciples of Jesus serve others purely for the sake of the other.

With the shrinking of the church, eventually all that may be left is a remnant of the church...which is really a reflection of the spiritual reality already largely in place. Jesus, however, taught to seek the lost and to invite folks into the Kingdom of God life. Such invitation is not a threat, nor does it seek to control the outcome. It seeks simply to invite.

Counting the cost of being Jesus' disciples, we find it to be more than wearing a t-shirt, cheering Jesus on. We must pray daily, love others as Jesus loves us, love our enemies, share in Jesus' crucifixion. It is well worth it because resurrection life is coming.

The popular understanding of Christianity is highly unattractive to non-Christians...mostly involving hell. Love of God and neighbor, love of Jesus is often forgotten. It is any wonder, therefore, that people aren't flocking to Jesus/