The grizzly story of Jesus' death speaks volumes about the the mindset of those that were there as it happened. Jesus' final act of his life was giving life in "paradise" to a criminal next to him on a cross. There is no fairness in this story. There is great love, grace, and vision.

Gratitude and generosity work in a cycle. More gratitude brings more generosity. More generosity brings more gratitude. This life-giving cycle is at the very heart of God who offers Jesus as an act of generosity. God is the supreme giver. We are called to live in the same way. We are never more like God than when we give.

So often we think of prayer as fixing things or even fixing people. This episode helps us uncover the reality of prayer as a way of having union with God and others. This "union" of sorts is prompted in many ways by gratitude and generosity. Sometimes our acts of generosity create a sense of gratitude to God for those good gifts.

It seems that the divide between the rich and poor is ever-widening. While there are many public remedies to this problem, ultimately the problem is one of the heart. We prefer the addiction of acquisition. This week's episode outlines a different quest. This new quest is built on finding contentment in joy. Perhaps we have been seeking the wrong thing all along.