Jonathan Chute - "Everything"

Luke 12: 13-21. This week's gospel addresses the question of needs and wants, and how easy it is to get them turned around in our

minds. Jesus tells a parable about a man who suddenly has too much; at a time when he could be generous, instead

he wants more.

Jonathan Chute - "All in This Together"

Luke 11: 1-13. In this week's gospel the disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray. Jesus responds to their request with a brief

version of what we know as the Lord's Prayer. He also has a few things to say about HOW we pray, as well as WHAT we pray.

Jonathan Chute - "A Woman's Place"

Luke 10: 38-42. As Jesus continues on his journey to Jerusalem, he visits the home of Martha, who becomes resentful when she feels

she is doing all the work while her sister Mary sits at Jesus' feet listening. Martha chastises Jesus for not telling

her sister to lend a hand, but Jesus commends Mary for attending to the one thing that really counts that day.

Jonathan Chute - "Further or Farther?"

Luke 10: 25-37. This week's gospel is one of the most familiar of Jesus' parables. A lawyer wants to test Jesus and asks him what

he must do to receive the gift of eternal life. Jesus helps him to see that the answer is two-fold. Love of God

and love of neighbor are two sides of the same coin.

Clayton Cobb - "Love Has Good Manners"

Luke 14: 1-14. This week our gospel finds Jesus at a meal with a leader of the Pharisees. It is clear Jesus has a different understanding of the definition of

'hospitality' - and who is to be included in it.

Jonathan Chute - "Turning Toward the Future"

Luke 9: 51-62. This week's gospel records a number of Jesus' sayings while on the road to Jerusalem. Jesus wants his disciples to understand that they are

headed toward a future that will include suffering as well as service, and Jesus will not be swayed. The journey to Jerusalem requires their

full attention.

Jonathan Chute - "In and Out"

Luke 8: 26-39. As Jesus steps off the boat on the other side of the Sea of Galilee, he heals a man who is tormented by demons and out of his right mind.

This dramatic healing causes anxiousness and fear in the nearby village. When they ask Jesus to leave, the man asks to go with him,

but Jesus sends him back home - to tell everyone what God has done for him.

Jonathan Chute - "Unacceptable"

Luke 7:36 - 8:3. In this week's gospel Jesus experiences generosity and hospitality from an unexpected source. He is a guest at the home of Simon, a Pharisee.

While he is at the dinner table a woman brings Jesus a jar of expensive oil, washes his feet with her tears and anoints him with the oil.

When Simon objects to this display, Jesus points out that her extravagance is a sign of her deep gratitude for God's grace.

Jonathan Chute - "The Rising"

Luke 7: 11-17. Our gospel for this Sunday tells of another healing which has taken place at the beginning of Jesus' ministry. A widow has lost her only son.

She is overcome with grief. But Jesus touches the pallet on which he is being carried and orders him to sit up. As one member of the community

is restored to life it is as if the whole community has been given new hope.

Jonathan Chute - "Ordinary Time"

Luke 7: 1-10. In this week's gospel, a Roman centurion seeks a healing from Jesus for one of his slaves, who is near death.

The Jewish leaders come to Jesus on the centurion's behalf because hey know him as a friend and want Jesus to understand that he is deserving of

God's favor. When Jesus hears of the centurion's faith he is amazed that someone who is not even a member of the Jewish community should have

such trust in God.