Good Intentions
The older I get, the more I notice how often I fail to live up to my commitments, how often I say that I will do one thing and end up doing something quite different, how often I am unwilling or unable to make good on my promises to myself as well as to others. […]
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 […]
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 […]
Was Jesus Prejudiced?
Some say Jesus was perfect, all-knowing and all-loving. If so, what are we to make of his snippy retort to the Canaanite woman who wanted healing for her daughter.* “I only came for the lost sheep of Israel,” Jesus said, and, when she persisted, he added, “It’s not fair to take the children’s food and […]