What’s a King to do? Your son, the heir – the only heir – is getting married! The feast or the party has got to be epic! It has to be a phenomenal banquet, without problems, without room for error. It all must be bigger than life-itself! It has to destroy all previously known parties…destroy […]
Jesus knew the Isaiah scrolls, he knew them well. It was Isaiah who wrote, “Let me sing for my beloved my love song concerning his vineyard. My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill.” “The vineyard of the Lord of Hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his […]
One brother “talked the talk.” The other brother “walked the walk.” Jesus asks: Which of the two did his father’s will? We all know about “talkers.” “Talkers” will tell you exactly what you want to hear. Usually, but not always they are “quite insincere.” They will tell you anything! These are the ones – who […]
For us, the story of the two sons – presents a relatively simple choice. “Results” are more important than “appearances.” But just so you know and are aware – it wasn’t always so…. Sometimes, “appearances” were more important than “the actual results.” Now some might say: The “older son” was the “better son” because he […]
How very Protestant. How very Lutheran. How very Reformation Era! Entry into God’s Kingdom is not gained by “our work” or by “our action,” but solely based on the “generosity of our God.” Which is simply to say – “you can’t work your way into heaven.” You cannot “buy your way into heaven…” There are […]
Apparently, there was a time that if you wanted to find work – you went to the local Market place and waited there. The earlier you got there – the better. Later it was to the Guilds that you would go. Or, Labor Halls … or union halls… I remember people looking up jobs in […]
This parable got me to thinking. That’s not necessarily a good thing! I started thinking about the issue of “pay inequity.” You know, women being paid less than men for the same jobs… So, I did a Google. What I found first, was a series of questions- that sounded more like justification to me… Are […]
We expect to be paid for our work. A fair paycheck – for each day worked. My first job was as a paper-boy. I lived off of my tips for good service…for going the extra mile. Papers in the mailboxes or gently placed between the doors, not thrown onto the lawn or somewhere on the […]
“Forgive me,”- that is the best way I can think of – for any pastor – anywhere – to start a sermon on “forgiveness.” “Forgive me!” Perhaps it is not even “a bad way” to start out “every sermon or meditation.” Kinga and I were having a discussion this past week around “the proverbial water […]
I admit it – I like stories with happy endings. We want the “good guy” to be successful and happy. We want the “bad guy” to get his “just desserts!” We want there to be “fairness and equity” in this world. So, as I approach this gospel story told by Jesus…I have to admit that […]