The cursing of the fig tree in Matthew 21:18-22, might be viewed as a capricious, petty, and negative miracle.  Of one thing I can be certain, Jesus was not capricious or petty ever, but especially not during this last week of His life of ministry... 

As I write this blog, I’m listening to Christmas choral music.  I love Christmas and have felt that way for as long as I can remember.  I especially love the music of Christmas, both sacred and secular.  Listening to Christmas concerts, as we did last night and plan to listen again to Saint Olaf University’s Christmas concert, has become an unbreakable family tradition.

What follows is a reflection I wrote in 2018, that is fully applicable today.  As we sadly experienced, 2020 brought additional grief to all of us.  For me, it included the death of my Mother, and our dear brother, Mike Myers.  The years following have been little better. In this year, 2023, my Kelley family suffered the loss of several of my cousins and second cousins.  In the present moment, two wars rage, killing thousands.  Those wars, along with only increasing partisan animosity, have more deeply divided our nation. 

As World War II was breaking out, C. S. Lewis began writing his Space Trilogy.  Today’s readers of these works may have greater trouble than his original readers accepting the premise that Mars and Venus were populated by sentient beings and civilizations.  Trust me, it will be worth the effort!

A buffet restaurant commercial opens with a family sitting around a table and the oldest person says, “Back in my day…” I don’t know what he says next, because I hit the mute button.  However, I’m struck by this common phrase among senior folk, “Back in my day...”

We have looked at individuals mentioned in Acts, such as Paul, Barnabas, and Luke, the author of Acts.  In this blog, I want to highlight a couple, who are always mentioned together.  They are Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18:2), or at most other times, Priscilla and Aquila, or Prisca and Aquila.  Priscilla is the affectionate diminutive of her proper name, Prisca (Romans 16:3).

As I mentioned in my last post, I intend to address an issue that the writers of the New Testament discuss at great length.  I will not, indeed cannot, discuss this at great length in this blog.  Yet, I will briefly discuss Luke’s tackling of this reality in Acts, with a glance back to his Gospel, and Paul’s letter to the Romans. 

…On [Philip’s] way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). Acts 8:27 (NIV)

In my last post, I spoke of one of the New Testament’s truly good guys, who was full of faith and the Holy Spirit.  However, not everyone in the New Testament is like Barnabas.  Meet a Samaritan named Simon, and don’t expect The Good Samaritan.

Acts 11: 22 News of [Greeks responding to the Gospel in Antioch] reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

Acts 2:44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. (NIV)

Acts 4: 32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 

There is a scene in the classic western, “The Magnificent 7,” where Chris, the leader of a small group of men who are good with guns, approaches a character named Harry about joining in an effort to help a small Mexican village defend itself from a large band of bandits.  Harry is convinced, however, that this is just a cover for something bigger, such as gold, cattle, or payroll.  “Only what I told you,” said Chris.  “Sure, never mind. Just tell me when you can,” Harry replied.  Exasperated, Chris says, “Harry, please don't understand me so fast!”

The third requirement, in Luke 14:25-33, that Jesus makes upon those who would follow Him is placed in the negative, “…those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples (Luke 14:33, NIV).”

In Luke 14:25-33, Jesus warns would be followers to consider the implications of following Him to Jerusalem and the crucifixion that awaited.  In last’s week’s blog, we saw that Jesus told the crowd that the call of the Kingdom of God demanded a radical choice of the King and His Kingdom over the closest family relations and duties.  Now, we come to the second, and starkest of the three conditions for following Jesus, carry your cross (daily).

As we approach Good Friday and Easter, I’d like to spend the next three blogs looking at one of the most challenging passages in the Gospels, Luke 14:25-33.  

The Gospel of Luke takes an important turn in 9:51.

As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. (Luke 9:51 NIV)

Not too long ago, we visited an out-of-state church, and attended their adult Bible class.  It was on a difficult book for contemporary Christians to understand.  After the class, I asked the teacher what books he found helpful.  Without a hint of unkindness or arrogance, he told me that he only read the Bible, but quickly added that he checked cross-references.