The Accounting of Forgiveness
“How many times do I need to forgive my brother or sister?” That’s the question which prompts the parable of the unmerciful servant.* Peter, like me, would like a limit on forgiveness, perhaps somewhere around the number of items you can take through the grocery store express line. Well, Jesus does throw out numbers in […]
Growing Together
When it comes to our places of belonging, whether they are family or friendships or spiritual communities, inevitably we communicate badly or offend or hurt each other, either intentionally or unconsciously. We are people. Precious and flawed. Each born and grown differently, formed by our personalities and a history of relations, social context, and life […]
To Take Up Your Cross
Today’s passage from Matthew* has often been understood as a call not to life, but to resignation: suffering is all, and the proper response is gritting teeth and bearing pain proudly to pay God back for God’s love. Fake it if you have to, imitate, but keep your joy at bay. As my father was […]
Loving Jesus Behind His Back
Every time I read that Jesus asked his disciples what people were saying about him,* I wonder why he cares what other people are thinking. Why does Jesus want to know what the disciples are saying when he isn’t around? Is he so vain or insecure that what other people think about him matters?” I […]