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...

Frank Wesley, 1923-2002 . To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector (from Luke 18:9-14)   “A Pharisee and a tax collector walk into the temple to pray.” The Pharisee, confident in his relationship with God, thanks God by listing the ways he’s more righteous. He stands by himself to be sure he’s not touched by anyone less righteous than himself. The tax collector, even knowing he’s a sinner, goes to the temple to pray. He stands far away, feeling unworthy as a sinner, and prays anyway. The tax collector doesn’t look to heaven, beats his chest, and prays, “God have mercy on me a sinner.” The Pharisee is trusting in himself while praying before God. The tax collector trusts in God. The tax collector, comfortable telling God the truth, trusts in God’s promise of salvation. Through God’s promises, Jesus moral teachi...

Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. (from Luke 18:1-8 )  Early African converts to Christianity were sincere and regular in private devotions, praying and reading scripture. Each convert had a separate spot in a grove to pour out their heart to God.  Eventually the paths to the groves became well worn.  So, if one of these converts began to neglect prayer, others soon noticed. Other converters would kindly remind the careless one, “Brother, the grass grows on your path.” Each Sunday as I listen to people lift their prayer requests asking God to change something, a sickness or a situation, I notice some of the prayer requests are repeated week after week. This persistence prayer request carries a sense of hope within it. Forgetting that God hears and answers prayer in God’s ways and God’s time, grass may begin to grow on the path. It’s then that a sense of hopelessness can set in. It’s time to begin walking the path to their gro...

From the CodexAureus Cleansing of the ten lepers   "Then he said to him,  “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.” (from  Luke 17:11-19 ) The Chaos Chaos describes a leper’s life. Lepers, according to Leviticus 13.45-46, were forced to live as roadside beggars with cover their mouths crying out, "Unclean! “Unclean” a warning to others. This left Lepers feeling the emotional pain of separation and isolation caused by living apart. The Calling Fear and shame burdened them since Leprosy was seen as God’s punishment for serious sin. The only way out of this exile was healing and confirmation by a priest, which was considered as difficult as raising the dead. It’s no wonder that when Jesus approached, the lepers cry out: “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” Jesus instructs them to visit the priests, and while obeying, their leprosy is cured. One leper returns, loudly praising God at Jesus's feet leading to a changed behavior and greater spirit...