The 23rd Psalm brings most people comfort. The pastoral images of still water, pastures and a table set are idyllic. The assurance of protection in the face of trouble gives us peace. That first line points to the source of this comfort and peace – The Lord. No other shepherd will do – and there are many pretenders. For those who feel lost, outcast, broken, forgotten; for a world full of violence and division, only one shepherd can bring us together and grant us a place. The Lord.

Tragic events happen, but how do we live in a world that sets priorities of pride and ambition ahead being a beloved community? There is another way of living, another kingdom that Jesus proclaims. This is a kingdom in which you are claimed and baptized to live God's mercy and justice.

Isn’t it strange sometimes how Jesus seems to think just the way I think, believe what I believe, and get annoyed with the same kind of people that annoy me? Strange indeed. When this happens, we know that we have domesticated Jesus the Messiah. We have turned him to our purpose and made him in our own image, instead of the opposite. This robs Jesus of the power to redeem and save. It is the wild, uncontrollable Jesus we need.

Mark’s gospel tells us a parable of soils – no soil, rocky soil, thorny soil, and finally good soil – places where the gospel produces joy and faith. Who exactly is good soil? It is not who you might expect. Status, education, social concerns, right thinking, wealth – none of these things matter. The good soil is born of faith and the realization that only Jesus can help us. The good soil is Mark’s way of talking about the Beloved Community that is knit together by faith and the love of Christ.

Job wants answers. In his suffering, he wants to know why life is unfair, why he suffers, why bad things happen to him. Job wants explanations, information, reasons. He received no such things. His friends answer with ignorance. God, however, does answer – and the answer is quite unexpected.

Jesus told parables about the reign of God that were often puzzling and misunderstood. Using simple, everyday images, he taught that God’s work went on in hidden ways, sometimes with our help and often in spite of us. In a world where we despair about the size of our problems and the seeming smallness of our abilities and efforts, Jesus points us to sprigs, seeds, thistles, and poppies to find hope.

It doesn’t take much to see that humans have a gift for division - for blame and self-justification. The presence and love of Christ is a game changer. Only when we are first beloved by God and then able to love the forgiving grace and mercy of God do we stand a chance of loving anyone else – including our family.

On Holy Trinity Sunday, trying to understand the triune nature of God can be difficult. There is one we must not forget…

On the Day of Pentecost, it is easy to focus on the fire, you know, the fire that rests on the apostles who then go out and declare the gospel in many languages. That would be something, wouldn’t it? To see the fire resting on us. Don’t be distracted by the fire. The thing to notice is the fingerprints of God that start to be left behind as this Spirit leaves signs, marks, evidence all over the place to show us the resurrection in action.

Listen to the full worship service broadcast for the parking lot worship gathering on May 16, 2021.