Fire has been on our minds this week as the wildfires have brought super bad air to our region. Fire is also the center of the parable of Jesus this Sunday (Matthew 13).
Jesus tell the parable of the wheat and weeds, that culminates with Gods holy angles burning up the wicked. It is a tough parable that makes us wonder, is our God a God of mercy and grace? Pastor Rob reflects on why this holy fire is ultimately a great comfort to us, knowing that God promises to say a permanent no to evil.
The parable of the Sower is a surprisingly haunting parable. Haunting because it talks about how evil works to take away our faith; haunting because we have seen it happen just as Jesus says it will.
The parable is about the Sower who sows seed on different types of ground, each of which represents a different condition of our heart and lives. Pastor Rob reflects on how he has seen people‘s faith wither away for different reasons, each reflecting the words of the parable.
Yet the parable is also about God goodness, generosity and ultimate victory. Pastor Rob also reflects on the amazing harvest that God‘s word produces, as well as God‘s willingness to continue to sow the seed, even when our heart is hard
If your town is like our town, we had a big celebration this weekend (in spite of the weather!). Everyone had a good time, but the weekend forced us as Christians to ask ourselves, what do we make our nation's 250th?
Truthfully, Christians, like many others in our country, come to the 250th anniversary of our nation with many emotions - pride, frustration and hunger for togetherness. Pastor Rob works with the hymn "America the Beautiful" to lead us in a prayer for our country, a prayer that includes praise, confession and supplication (request). This includes some reflections at the end on how we can both want a society in which people follow the teachings of Jesus, but we can also be skeptical of political projects that employ Christian language.
Note: The audio file is a bit longer because it includes the interwoven singing of "America."
"Anyone who gives a cup of cold water to the least of these will be no means lose their reward..."
You've likely heard of the "Great Commission", where Jesus tells the disciples to go to all the world; but in today's Gospel (Matthew 10:42), we hear the "Least Commission", where Jesus tells us to do small things -- such as giving a cup of cold water -- for the least of these.
Pastor Rob explores how we give "cups of cold water" in every day life, through our vocations of family and work. Yet sometimes we must go beyond our daily routines and pay attention to those on the margins and those overlooked.
Above all, wherever and whenever we fulfill the "Least Commandment", we do so in response to the ways in which Jesus has already filled our cup.
What will we be like in eternity?
Turns out we should anticipate a complete transformation, not simply of body, but of the soul! Saint Paul promises us that in our Baptisms, the sin in us is put to death and we are raised up to new life in Jesus Christ.
Those promises are inspiring, but what does this look like for us who are still firmly planted with two feet on the ground? A reflection, then on Luther‘s interpretation of Roman six: Baptism means that we daily die to sin and daily are raised up to new life in Christ.
Out of his compassion, Jesus heals people.
Out of his compassion, Jesus sends out people to heal others.
This ministry of compassion continues, as Jesus sends out healers. Pastor Rob offers that although we may not all be medical professionals, Jesus invites all of us into a ministry of healing, namely listening.
An exploration of the connection between healing and listening. Ultimately, Jesus serves as the great healer because he is also the great listener.
In life, we all must climb the first mountain of life. This is the mountain of the self, where we establish ourselves professionally, socially and financially.
Today's Gospel from Matthew (9:9-26) warns us though, to avoid assuming the first mountain is THE mountain of life.
Jesus teaches us about a second mountain, a mountain that is about helping others, rather than getting ahead. This is the mountain he walked along, this is the mountain he died on and this is the mountain upon which he invites us to live.
