Our Gospel text for tonight is about – “the privileged” … abusing “the poor.” It is nothing new…It happens all the time. It happens every day! The “privileged” are the ones who sue. “Peasants” and people who are “dirt poor” – do not (as a rule) sue one another. You cannot get nothing from nothing. […]

Cain hated Abel for “standing higher” in “God’s esteem” than he felt – he himself did – so he killed his “only” brother… King Saul of Old, hated David, the young shepherd boy – for stealing the hearts of the people with his winning ways – so he tried to kill him at every conceivable […]

There is an old – old story that is told about ten men who happened to be soldiers… These soldiers had been locked in vicious battles for three years, and in one battle, all ten of them were killed. All ten of them went up to the “pearly gates in heaven” to see Simon Peter […]

I have been thinking a lot about “perfection” of late. And I have finally reached that age where I have to admit, it is elusive… Perfection for me…is not obtainable… I try and I try and it always escapes me…I always fall short…wayyyyyy short! Now I am aware that some people think that they are […]

Yep, the Sermon on the Mount continues… So, Let’s talk a little bit about perfection! Have you found the perfect place to live? Do you have the perfect job? Have you been blessed with the perfect spouse and the perfect children… [You children] – obviously have the perfect parents…right? For the record, I am not […]

Let’s talk about light. Matthew has previously sited the prophet Isaiah when he said, “the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light.” Now we have Jesus addressing folks in the Sermon on the Mount and Jesus says to them, “You are the light of the world!” And I envision him pointing at […]

You are the salt of the earth…and you are the salt of the earth…and you and you…all of you are the salt of the earth! You are needed. You are necessary. You add much to this life and therefore, you are of infinite value and worth. Never allow anyone to tell you otherwise! I did […]

There can be no doubt about it – Jesus is “THE” Teacher, “par excellent.” His “Sermon on the Mount” – being a case in point… But also his Beatitudes speak volumes about his ministry, its direction and his various teachings – which will soon follow… The disciples, the twelve, his “chosen ones” are the “in-crowd,” […]

Our Gospel text is known –traditionally as being the “Beatitudes” – based on the “original Latin word” for “blessed.” This is like the preamble or the prologue or the forward to the infamous “Sermon on the Mount.” It is the opening or the beginning… In Hebrew – “blessings” – give life, whereas “curses,” – take […]