Even with a little faith, you can make a big difference, but that big difference is in the small, everyday things of life that make a difference in human life and society (Luke 17:5-10). May we be thankful for the privilege and opportunity to serve God. “May we be motivated by love for God and […]
Let us pray to God for compassionate and generous hearts: Our generous and loving God, your Son Jesus is risen from the dead and tells us to see the needs of the poor and to give them food and drink. May we recognize your Son in them. We ask this in the name of Jesus […]
The prophet Amos points out that those who could have made a difference chose not to make a difference. Abundance had blinded them to the plight of those who had no abundance (Amos 6:1-8). In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man thought he had no responsibility for the poor, sick […]
Let us pray to the Lord that we be fair and generous to all: Just and merciful God, may we neither adore money and possessions nor sacrifice the poor to them. May our hearts be gentle and compassionate so that we not neglect the dispossessed and those trampled upon. May we share with them in […]
On the one hand, wealth can be used wisely to help other people, gain friendships, or to secure a financial future. On the other hand, our use of wealth may magnify our inclination to take advantage of situations that benefit only us and no one else. Jesus warns us to not be captivated by the […]
Let us pray to our faithful Father who always loves us and waits for us: God, our patient Father, it is a joy for you to forgive the repentant sinner. You even allowed your Son to lay down his life to bring us forgiveness and life. Dispose those whom we have offended to forgive us […]
Moses interceded for Israel and understood that God seeks to restore and renew sinful people (Exodus 32:7-14). Perhaps more often than not, we desire mercy for ourselves, and justice and judgment for those whom we deem greater sinners than we. Our New Testament Scripture Reading from 1Timothy affirmed God’s grace despite human unrighteousness (1 Timothy […]
Let us pray that we follow Jesus consistently through the leading of the Holy Spirit: God our Father, we have accepted your invitation to follow your Son, Jesus, as his disciples. May the Holy Spirit give us the wisdom and strength to take our faith seriously and to accept our task in life with all […]
We Christians have been far from perfect. Christians have justified slavery and segregation with Scripture. Christians have used the non-violent Jesus as a pretext for war. As an individual representative of Jesus Christ, I can say that I have been far from perfect, yet there is hope (Jeremiah 18:4). Yet, through the Holy Spirit, God […]
When we think of the Old Testament we may have the image of God on Mt. Sinai as was mentioned last week. The Israelites could not even approach the mountain and Moses trembled with fear. However, one aspect of the Old Testament that we may overlook is the Old Testament’s thorough emphasis upon fairness and […]
