The experience of faith includes the experience of God’s seeming absence at times and honestly facing those moments which ultimately helps us to move through them.

The heavens are telling the glory of God

The parable of the Good Samaritan is about moving from our fear of enemies to loving our enemies. It’s about crossing boundaries to see & love those we more easily hate or see as adversaries.

Jesus’ parable of the persistent widow who asks for help and justice from an essentially unjust judge, who repeatedly ignores her then finally grants her request. Jesus tells us to pray & never give up.

The first two parables in this selection form a pair and say essentially the same thing from two perspectives: God's coming Reign is like a treasure or rare jewel that is so invaluable that it is worth total sacrifice.