Punishment and possession … rage and suffering … orthodontia …

From the foundation of the world, from the dying Jesus and forever, God is singing to us, “heart of my own heart, whatever, befall, whatever, befall, I am with you.”

Jesus is honest about the fragility of even our grandest man-made structures. Jesus normalizes chaos as the way of the world. And Jesus calls us to testify – to proclaim Christian hope – in the midst of that chaos.

Hebrew tradition asks for the tithe, ten percent of one’s income. The Portrieux fishermen contributed one-seventh of their life and labors. And the poor widow? She gave everything she had. How generously does God call you to give?

The body of Christ is made up of each of you, each of us, because each of us on our own will never be enough, because we were created to be enough only when we are together. Imperfectly together.

Our time together remains as near as a song, or a scent, or a place, and I believe in the love conjured by those memories, there is God – and where God is, they are … different, of course, but meaningful, real …

When the world has tried to pull us all apart in fear, you proclaim a gospel which does not flatter kings or powers of this world, but calls every human being beloved, deserving of dignity. And so this morning we are reminded that we’re all part of that far greater story.

In the story world of our contemporary lives, violence and political madness wrack us with grief and anxiety.  In response, we have too often contributed to the unholy momentums of the extant narratives, hating our opponents, rather than loving our enemies. 

Has the world got you down? Do you feel like you can’t handle any more things on your plate? The disciples felt stretched beyond their limits, to which Jesus says- you have enough. Do you think you are enough? God does!

Grace is not a wage that is meted out for good behavior. Grace is a gift, wholly indifferent to questions of merit. A gift wholly undeserved. We simply cannot earn it. So where is the grace in this parable?