What Did the Criminal See?

The Gospel reading is Luke 23:33-43

The crucified criminal, hanging beside Jesus, heard Jesus praying God’s forgiveness on those who had unjustly persecuted and crucified Him.

The Kingdom of God is contrasted with the kingdom of the world, and requires us to put aside our egos. God’s Kingdom is not of this world: love, compassion, service and reign. We are called to live in God’s Kingdom even as we live in this world.

These two kingdoms call on very different allegiances to two very different kings.

Jesus saved us not by vanquishing the enemy, but by loving the enemy even as God was revealed as vulnerability itself.

Surrendering to God we find ourselves in the Kingdom of God, where Christ is King.

Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Called to Bear the Beams of Love

The Gospel reading is Luke 18:9-14

Prophets in the Bible, having intimate connection with God, often see incongruity between God’s will and human activity, and make prophetic statements about the consequences if people do not listen to the prophecy and change their ways.

Prophecies are not forecasts of inevitable occurrences in the future, but rather guidance that can help change behavior and hence consequences. In other words, the future is contingent on the now.

Changing ourselves, of course, is difficult and painful. Thus we miss the opportunity to be transformed to our true selves, in God.

We resist the truths of the prophets. This is why Jesus was crucified.

Modern studies about climate change are modern prophecies, with observations about the tragic consequences if we do not change our waves. They tell us truths we don’t want to hear, and that would require us to change ourselves, our habits and our lifestyles.

We still can make these changes in time to benefit our children and grandchildren, and be better stewards of God’s Earth.

If we love as Jesus has loved us, if we bear the beams of Christ’s love, we will live and love as he did, pouring out our lives for each other, and change history by changing ourselves today.

Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

We Are All Sisters and Brothers

The Gospel reading is Luke 18:9-14

On this All Saints Sunday, Fr. Mark explains how we are all sisters and brothers, with human beings and all of Creation. He explains that to demonize others, to “cancel” them, is not consistent with Jesus’ teachings. Instead, we can learn to call one another home within the communion of saints, where there are no nationalities, religions, egos, elections.

Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Engage From a Place of Prayer

The Gospel reading is Luke 18:9-14

Fr. Mark offers guidance on how to understand the teachings of Jesus, and discusses the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. We are encouraged to be less full of ourselves, to make room for God’s grace, and to engage with others and the world from a place of prayer.

Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Never Give Up Praying

The Gospel reading is Luke 18:1-8

Don’t lose heart, turn up the volume. God “caves in” with persistent praying.

What does praying without ceasing mean? Prayer is not primary words, but an attitude. We can stay at all times within the attitude and mindset of Christ, keeping the channel open between God and the human person.

Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Seeing With the Eyes of the Heart

The Gospel reading is Luke 17:11-19

Seeing with the eye of the heart we gradually realize that the mystery is love, and we gradually realize the necessity of saying yes to it. We have the choice to say yes to this, and to enter into the energies that always are flowing from this mystery.

Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Be Reminded of What Faith Is

The Gospel reading is Luke 17:5-10

Is faith like a finite bank account, that can be depleted? Jesus commands us to draw deep from the water He gives, and never be thirsty. If we have even the smallest mustard seed of faith, the floodgates within will open up. We have what we need to live within the Kingdom of God.

Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Don’t Hit Snooze

The Gospel reading is Luke 16:19-31

Who would hit the snooze button on God, saying “Later, Lord”?

Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Strengthening Our Spiritual Sight

The Gospel reading is Luke 16:1-13

Father Mark discusses the parable of the dishonest manager. We are both children of this age and children of light, and our default mode is to live as children of this age.

Can we see through the lens of worldliness and the lens of Spirit? Can we, as children of light, be as adept at maintaining and navigating our Gospel-based, spiritual life as well as the dishonest manager in the parable navigates the world of dishonest wealth? Can we get our priorities right?

Disciplined exercises, such as prayer, meditation, and spending time in nature, help us to strengthen our spiritual sight and enjoy enduring happiness.

Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Journey Forth in Faith and Trust

Father Mark addresses uncertainty, and the need for us to have faith and trust, and to let the life of the in-between time come into its own.

Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.