Blog Posts containing "Pentecost"

Twenty-Sixth Sunday After Pentecost: Grace is a lovely surprise to finally discover how unlonely being alone can be. Think Legalism: “Create” is seen physically. Feel Grace: “Create” is felt spiritually. "I am about to create new heavens and a new earth"  Read more

“Then came to Him certain of the Sadducees who deny that there is any resurrection” What we are thinking is irrelevant. How we are thinking is relevant. The lesson today is an example of the fact that literal thinking trying to get rational answers to spiritual questions is irrelevant. Only spiritual thinking can get grace answers concerning spiritual questions.  Read more

Twenty-Fifth Sunday After Pentecost: Wisdom is based on facts filed away just below the conscious level. Think Legalism: The “word” is audible. Feel Grace: The “word” is feeling the Presence of Jesus.  Read more

Zaccheus may have been among the tax collectors at the Baptism of Jesus. Luke 3:12 Jesus met with many tax collectors and publicans during his short three year ministry. In Luke 5:29, a Tax collector named Levi who became the Apostle “Matthew”, made Him a feast in his house with a great company of publicans. In Luke 7:34, Jesus was accused of eating and drinking with publicans. In Luke 15:1, “All of the publicans drew near to hear Him.” It would be difficult to believe Zacchaeus only knew of Jesus; they likely knew each other personally. How did Jesus know who that person was in the tree? After all, He called him by name!  Read more

Twenty-Fourth Sunday After Pentecost: When no one is watching, grace lives as if someone is. Think Legalism: “Sins” are immoral acts that cause separation from God. Feel Grace: “Sins” are immoral acts that are caused by separation from God.  Read more

The story is a simple one. Two men are in the Temple for prayers, one a Pharisee and the other a Tax collector. The Pharisee prays to himself about how faithful he is. He is not at all like the tax collector. The tax collector merely prays, “Lord have mercy upon me a sinner.” He leaves justified and the other not. The Pharisee is not much different than some in America. They see themselves as religious people. They are rich enough to follow all the laws. However, they do all they can to legalistically not follow the laws. They hate paying taxes and they see themselves as patriots. They are not thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like the tax collecting traitor.  Read more

Twenty-Third Sunday After Pentecost: If legalism fails, read the grace directions. Think Legalism: “Come” means to move from one place to another. Feel Grace: “Come” means to move from not feeling to feeling.   Read more

Literal thinking sees this parable as a comparison between and the unjust judge and the God of justice. The parable of the widow and the recalcitrant judge is about the need to always pray and not to lose heart. Literal prayer needs to be persistent. Things to do are to say prayers, sing praise hymns, take communion and go on retreats. The problem is, that is not how it works. You can pray prayers, and not pray, sing praise hymns and not praise, be stuffed with Eucharistic bread or go on retreats and not be in communion with God. If it does not work once, it does not work at all. Jesus likes to quote Isaiah, “In vain you worship me. You worship with your lips but your heart is far from me.”  Read more

Twenty-Second Sunday After Pentecost: Grace gets you real friends and legalism gets you tough times! Think Legalism: “Watch over” means to see from above. Feel Grace: “Watch over” means to feel from within.  Read more

Did you catch the point of this story? Granted there are many minor points. There is the healing of the lepers, the one who came back to give thanks. There is Jesus telling him that his Faith has made him whole. What is the big point? Did you miss it?  Read more