Needing A Doctor

When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”  On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call[read more]

To Promote the General Welfare

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with[read more]

One Step At A Time

Jesus said to Thomas, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?  Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” John 20: 29 At the age of 77, and long before the advent of the computer, Thomas Jefferson set out to cut and paste his way to a new version of[read more]

Call and Compromise

A scribe approached and said to  him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”  Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky  have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”  Another of his disciples said to him, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” [read more]

A Broken Heart

The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, the sick I will  heal, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy, shepherding them rightly. Ezekiel 34: 16 The love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has[read more]

Putting Into Practice

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like wise persons who built their houses on the rock.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But all[read more]

New Life and Responsibility

The Lord took Abram outside and said: “Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can.  Just so,” he added, “shall your descendants be.”  Genesis 15:5 Early this morning a young couple who are very dear friends gave birth to their first child.  I awoke, from a fairly restless and anxious night,[read more]

Possessions or Conversation

Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold.  Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, so that the land could not support them if they stayed together; their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together.  There were quarrels between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and those[read more]