We want to identify what belongs to God and "pay" Him appropriately from a heart filled with love and devotion.

The collision of the old and the new climaxes in Jesus' final week. In the confrontation Jesus begins to tell story in order to get his point across to the opposition. The Parable of the Wicked Tenants comes right to the point: surely the tenant farmers will respect the son, but what if they reject him? What will the owner of the vineyard do?

God is neither male nor female. God is both and more. So it should not surprise us that God loves us both as a Father and as a Mother. His heart encompasses both and we are recipients of God's fathering and mothering love at just the right time. Today on Mother's Day we celebrate his love expressed as a mother.

There is only one miracle when Jesus curses something. Every other miracle is a blessing. Good for us to pay attention to what Jesus is doing so that we receive blessing and not curse!

Responding to our world of random acts of evil.

When we see Jesus clearly in his passion, death, and resurrection, we truly know who he is and we are willing to pay the cost to follow him.

Are our eyes wide open?

Do we need to regain our sight?

Do we see everything clearly?

The road to greatness for Jesus and those who follow him is paved with service to others not being served, a refusal not to lord over others or to tyrannize them, and a willingness to give up of one's life for the sake of others. Who will get in on Jesus' glorious Kingdom rule as soon as possible?

What has Jesus done in his death and resurrection?

Do we believe this?

Do we live this?

Which procession will we follow?

Most of the time I expect to receive encouragement, comfort, and reassurance from the words of Jesus. So, what about those times when his words shock us? Dismay us? Horrify us?