An Elder Pilgrim's Reflections

  On December 7, 1941, Ens. Maurice was performing his duties when fighter planes flew overhead dropping bombs attacking and sinking ships. He stayed at his post until his battleship was hit and he abandoned ship barely making it to safety. In the Spring of 1995, a small group of Japanese people raising funds for a school asked to stay with members of our church. Maurice was one of the members who housed them. You know, what happened here is pretty amazing. Maurice, who once barely survived an attack from Japanese planes during the war, later opened his home to a group of Japanese visitors. By choosing kindness over old hurts, he showed how forgiveness can start with simple actions. It’s proof that even small gestures—like welcoming someone—can help heal old wounds and bring people together. This is what Christ’s reign really looks like in humility and sacrifice. As Christians we are expected to extend God’s grace around us, even when it seems difficult. Sometim...

Temple Remains   As for these things that you see,  the days will come when not one stone  will be left upon another;  all will be thrown down.” They asked him,  “Teacher, when will this be,  and what will be the sign  that this is about to take place?” (from Luke 21:5-19 ) There’s a story about a fourth-grade class that winning an attendance award. As a class they could vote between a homework pass for the day or bringing a stuffed animal to school. Amazingly, they chose to bring a stuffed animal. As one student explained, there’s no such thing as a homework pass because you might skip it today, but you still gotta learn it. There’s a truth here: homework is inevitable, but school is unpredictable. Homework guidelines are clear, but lunchroom rankings and playground bullying persist. In the gospel, Jesus overhears a discussion about the beauty of the temple and the many offerings given there. Instead of joining the conversation, Jesus shif...

Cutting the Gordian Knot  Jesus said to them,  “Those who belong to this age  marry and are given in marriage,  but those who are considered worthy  of a place  in that age  and in the resurrection from the dead  neither marry nor are given in marriage. (From Luke 20:27-38 )  King Gordius tied a famously complex knot that legend claimed only the future ruler of Asia could undo. When Alexander tried but failed to untie the knot, he solved the puzzle by cutting through it with his sword. That is pretty much what was going on when Jesus was confronted by some Sadducees. The Sadducees didn’t believe in the resurrection, so their question is really about the how unrealistic the whole concept is. The Sadducees' beliefs stemmed from their reverence for scripture and their focus on legacy. According to the Law of Moses, marriage and children keep a man’s name alive here on earth therefore a widow marrying her husband’s brother does that. ...

Michelangelo Buonarroti,   “And afterward,      I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy,      your old men will dream dreams,      your young men will see visions." (from Joel 2:23-32) Why did God let this happen? This past summer we experienced a record-breaking drought destroying fields of grain. Devastating rainstorms followed with flash floods demolishing people’s homes. Camp Mystic, a girls' camp on the Guadalupe River was hit in the middle of the night among devastating floods, killing 27 campers and counselors. Clearly, we are in trouble as these natural disasters disrupt our daily lives. The prophet Joel was asking the same question. There was a violent invasion of locusts destroying people’s livelihood as the creatures laid waste to the crops. A devastating fire swept the land devouring pastures and trees. These disasters have caused severe financial...