Jonathan Chute - "RSVP"

Matthew 22: 1-14. In our gospel Jesus describes the kingdom of God as a great wedding feast. He tells the story of a king who invites guests to share in the happy occasion. But on the day of the wedding those who were invited decide that they are too busy to come. But they’re not just busy – they are rude and aggressive as well. They even beat and kill some of the king’s servants! Despite their hostility and violence, the king is determined to hold his party. He will not let them cancel the celebration. He sends other servants out to invite anyone they can find. By the end of the parable everyone is invited. But if you don’t want to be there you don’t have to come – and you don’t get to stay.

Jonathan Chute - "Testing, Testing"

Matthew 21: 23-32. This Sunday’s gospel portrays a tense encounter between Jesus and some local religious leaders. They see him, as they saw John the Baptist, as a troublemaker. They ask who gave him the authority to speak and act as he does. Jesus responds with a question of his own, which they refuse to answer. They had hoped to trap him, but find themselves cornered instead. Then he tells them a story of two brothers with very different approaches to life. It seems that God is more interested in what we actually do than what we say we will do. It is a lesson that applies across the centuries, to people of faith from every tradition.

Jonathan Chute - "No Accounting for Grace"

Matthew 20: 1-16. This week’s gospel is one of the most irritating of all of Jesus’ parables. Over the years it has bothered almost everyone who read or heard it. He tells the story of a man whose generosity toward some – but not all – of his workers creates jealousy on the part of the others. It does not matter to them that they were actually treated fairly. They are outraged at the good fortune of those who did not have to work as hard as they did. The story is not an example of how to run a business. But it does show just how different God’s ways are from our ways.

Jonathan Chute - "A Little Short"

Matthew 18: 21-34. This week’s reading speaks to one of the most difficult issues we face in life. The topic is forgiveness, and Peter wants to know just how far we have to go with it. How many times are we supposed to forgive someone – as many as seven times? Peter seems to think that is a lot (and it is!). Jesus answers him with a number that seems even more unrealistic – not seven times, but seventy-seven times! Then he tells a parable in which the scale of forgiveness is beyond all calculation.

Jonathan Chute - "Right Side Up"

Matthew 18: 15-20. In this week’s gospel Jesus discusses how to handle broken relationships in the community of faith. He is speaking to the disciples, but it seems that his intended audience is the whole church. Jesus assumes that Christians, even those who have offended each other, will be pure in motive and objective in dealing with such matters. Even so, he offers a way to move forward when things do not go smoothly.

Jonathan Chute - "Worth Doing"

Exodus 3: 1-15. Our scripture this week tells the story of Moses' encounter with God in the wilderness of Midian.

Having fled for his life from Egypt, Moses has married and begun a family in a new land. He is tending his father in law's sheep

in the mountains when he sees something that catches his attention - a bush that is burning, but not burning up.

As he goes to look closer, he hears a voice. It turns out that God has something new for Moses to do with his life.

Jonathan Chute - " . . . And?"

Romans 5: 1-11. This week's scripture offers Paul's insights on suffering, endurance and hope. He portrays the life of faith

without hiding the hard parts, or pretending they don't exist. Yet he refuses to let go of hope. According to Paul,

our reconciliation with God is only the beginning of salvation.

Jonathan Chute - "Justified"

Romans 4: 1-5 and 13-18. In his Letter to the Romans the Apostle Paul shows that salvation is a gift from God - and not our own doing.

Paul wants us to remember that the love of God comes to us when we have done nothing to earn it . . . ours, not

because of who we are but because of who God is.

Jonathan Chute - "Fast Track"

Matthew 4: 1-11. On this first Sunday in Lent, we begin the journey that lies at the heart of the Christian story. We look to Jesus

as the example of a life of courage, compassion and hope. This week we pay attention to how the story all begins...

Jonathan Chute - "Glory"

Matthew 17: 1-9. This Sunday's gospel describes one of the most mysterious events in the life of Jesus. He takes three of the

disciples with him on a journey up a mountain. As they watch, his appearance suddenly and dramatically changes.

His face shines like the sun and his clothes turn bright white. Moses and Elijah appear suddenly and talk with him.

Then a cloud overshadows them all and God's voice is heard.