Jacob wrestles all night with a holy presence. He cannot win, but he will not let his opponent go until he gives Jacob his blessing.

A widow brings a case of injustice to the attention of a judge who neither fears God nor respects the people he is supposed to serve. But the widow refuses to let go, and returns to the court day after day seeking justice.

Mother Teresa experienced years of feeling that God was absent from her, yet through those years she continued to pour herself out in love for the poorest and most vulnerable people in Calcutta, India.

In times of anxiety, in the face of injustice, and grief, what does faith look like? What does faith look like in your life?

Accompanying scripture:

Genesis 32: 22-31

When Jesus tells a parable about two men praying, one a Pharisee who does everything right and the other a tax collector who recognizes his own faults yet asks for God’s mercy, it’s tempting to side with the tax collector. Especially since Jesus ends the parable in a way that basically states we must be humble.

But what if it’s a trap?

Perhaps there’s more to the story.

Accompanying scripture:

Luke 18:9-14

God often speaks through people on the margins.

Accompanying scripture:

When we pray, God promises to respond with God’s presence, whatever the outcome of the situation we are facing in this imperfect, broken world. Very often, we are the presence of God for one another.