The kingdom of heaven is like….. In Matthew we continue to hear this phrase completed by Jesus in his parables. During this sermon, I would like you to think about how you would complete this phrase.

Jesus goes back and forth between the crowds and his disciples. Usually telling a parable that describes what the kingdom is like and then explaining it to his disciples. How Jesus described the kingdom is not always how the church leaders described it. Jesus of course has expectations, but he was graceful. Often church leaders were only about telling people how they were not keeping the law as they understood it.

I believe the kingdom is about stating the truth, but gracefully. In my work with the developmentally disabled we taught the staff about positive approaches. It was important to look at limitations as well as potential. One received more cooperation when asking as opposed to telling them what to do. Potential and limitations were truth, just as it is with everyone of us.

The kingdom is about realizing who we are as a faith community. This discovering again and again what our strengths and weaknesses are and capitalizing on our strengths or gifts that God has given us. We as Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos cannot meet all of the needs of the community and we are not called to.

Over this next year we will be identifying the gifts that God has given us through individuals and then how we are more capable of doing the ministry that God is calling us to when we put them altogether. When we offer our gifts back to God, God can multiply our ministry far and above what we could imagine.

In our Gospel lesson today, we hear that the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed that someone planted in a field. A small seed that usually only grew to five or six feet in the Mediterranean, agrarian culture. It would have never been considered a tree. Here Jesus describes it as the greatest of shrubs and that it becomes a tree.

The birds recognize it’s worth and come and make nests in its branches. From something small, that may seem insignificant, it grows into something that has significance to those who are able to recognize it. The kingdom began with a small group and has continued to grow and the actual purpose of the kingdom is to grow it. 

Then we have a woman and we know women were not on par with men in the culture that Jesus lived and still often today. Since Jesus knew that and he enjoyed turning things upside down in his parables. The woman seemed to be doing just a daily task of making bread for a family.

Then Jesus has her mixing in three measures of flour. The New International Version highlights this by saying that she used an excessive amount of flour, about sixty pounds. This would create dough for over 100 loaves of bread.

Again, Jesus has taken someone insignificant in the scheme of society and used her to point out that everyone is important in the kingdom. Women can grow the kingdom just as well as anyone else. This is true, but is this all Jesus wants us to see?

I wonder if Jesus is trying to say if you take the gifts that I have given you, singular and plural, and use them to glorify me then the kingdom will grow. Jesus keeps telling us to learn from the past, but to look forward. Stay focused and look for signs of the kingdom in different places. For me it is about seeing potential.

For me the kingdom of heaven is having the ability to see the gifts that we have and believing the potential in them. The gifts that we receive from God are to be shared and not with only the people in this room. Churches who do not share their gifts outside their doors will eventually close.

It boils down to where our focus is or what and where we are seeking the kingdom of God. We have been reminded in our Gospel lesson that all we have to use what gifts we are being given, and the kingdom will grow and flourish. I want to emphasize will grow and keep growing.

I believe that once we see a glimpse of the kingdom here, it also gives us a glimpse of the kingdom yet to come. This is what keeps us seeking more and more sightings of the kingdom. The question becomes what are signs of the kingdom?

When we are looking for the kingdom we are called to be looking outside of these doors. We can see a sign of the kingdom when food is taken out of the 3 food boxes that are stocked by our box brigade.

I believe that we will see a sign of the kingdom at our booth on Meridian Township Pride Day on August 26.

I believe that we will see signs of God’s kingdom at VBS this week.

I would ask you to e-mail signs of the kingdom that you see throughout the week.

Notice I say, I believe as that is what Jesus is challenging us to do to believe that we will see signs of the kingdom as we are doing what we are called to do. We will see signs as we utilize and share the gifts that God given us. We are called to share God’s love without limitations. This love is lived out as we utilize the gifts that we have been given.

Our Hymn of the Day becomes a reminder to ourselves as well as to each other:

Seek first the kingdom of God and live out God’s love through the forgiveness, salvation and new life offered to us by Jesus, and all of these things shall be added to us.

Ask and the kingdom will be given to us, seek and we will find; knock and the door will be opened to us.

We do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Our Gospel lesson today reminds us of the potential in living out the kingdom and that everyone has been given gifts to do this individually and as a community of faith. Living out the kingdom like the seed that grew beyond what anyone would have thought. It was planted and taken care of and it became the greatest of all shrubs. Jesus used a woman doing something that seemed common and ordinary in the baking of the bread. She used an excessive amount of flour that could produce many loaves of bread. Each of these parables illustrate the potential in growing the kingdom when we use the gifts that God has given us in God’s name.

So if I were to ask you to complete the phrase – the kingdom of heaven is like…..

How would you finish it?

This is a special musical presentation of Be Thou My Vision, performed today by Fath Bells Members, Annie Mayer, Matt Schnizlein, Addie Thompson, Rich Weingartner and Deb Borton-McDonough at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

Jesus brings us back to farming again. He again gives us a head scratcher. Leaving weeds in the ground for us would mean for us that it would choke out the vegetables and/or flowers. This is where most of our experience is in farming.

Jesus uses wheat which is probably not somethings most of us have planted. We were informed in our Bible study this past week that what Jesus is talking about with wheat is actually how it works. The roots of the wheat and the weeds intertwine and if you pull out the weeds, the wheat will come out also.

What we have here is Jesus telling those gathered that the kingdom and life in general is a bit complicated. It is so easy to get distracted into the complexity of life. What is healthy for me, may not be healthy for you. It is sometimes difficult to see where God is at work and where God isn’t at work.

This is where it is so easy, as we are figuring this out to start getting off course and pointing fingers. It would be so much easier if all Christians interpreted the Bible in the same way. Unfortunately, we don’t. We would like to tell everyone how they are supposed to interpret the Bible, but that does not work.

We know that as a gay person I am loved and accepted here. I know the love part may take a while. We also know that I would not be welcome and affirmed in every church. Or at least I would be told who I was supposed to be and how I was to act.

I like contemporary music with boundary lines. The majority of contemporary music in the past was mainly done in more law-oriented churches. I always felt a little uncomfortable even before I realized who God made me to be. Of course, this has been the case in many Lutheran churches that I have been in also. This is the first church that I feel that I can be who God made me to be.

I could easily say all of the other churches must be where the weedy people are. Jesus says no I am present in those churches too. In reality, Jesus says the wheat and weeds are in all churches. There is justice and injustice in all churches as they are made up of human beings.

We all have different views and ways of interpreting what God says about who we are and how to live in the kingdom. As human beings we may think and feel that we have the right answers and do the right thing, but it may still harm people. It really becomes a fine line sometimes.

It becomes frustrating when we see things said and done that harm others. For me it becomes power and control over others. It was one thing to share how we feel and think, it is another thing to exert power and control over another.

The question becomes, is it better for the community or our individual view. As Christians, we can easily say right away say that God is very clear and wants something this way. My first response is where did you learn that and have you studied the original language?

I’m not sure that this is really what this Gospel lesson is about. Jesus is saying, I am asking you to work alongside people as you are able to. It is one thing to have a discussion, it is another thing not to listen because we have all the right answers. People of God, the more that we study the Word, the more that we find out that we don’t have all of the answers.

It would be so much easier if we could get all of this separation done between the wheat and the weeds, those that think the way we do and those that don’t. Jesus reminds us in our Gospel lesson for today that we are in this tension or struggle until the day we die. As Christians who try and lean more toward the Gospel than the law are challenged by Jesus today to focus on what comes at the end.

Jesus continues to remind us that we are not the judges and specifically in our Gospel lesson today it is not our responsibility to decide who are the weeds. The ones who are the children of the evil one. Jesus says we are called to live and work together until the harvest.

I believe that what can keep us focused on the hope that we claim in Jesus Christ’s forgiveness, salvation and new life, is when we focus on the fact that we are still students of the Gospel. Jesus says earlier in Matthew in the sermon on the mount, Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. It is when we attempt to have power and control over others that we lose sight of the kingdom of God.

The Psalmist today, which we believe to be David, prays: Teach me your way God, so that I may walk with you alone. We are reminded that God constantly loves us and lifts us up out of our low and alone places. This puts us in the same boat as everyone else.

We are called to find places to connect with all people that are open to it especially when reaching out to those on the margins. Other Christians may not be able to come to this place and that is not our responsibility. We again are only responsibility for where our focus is.

Jesus reminds us today that following him and living in his kingdom is not easy. Culture and society teaches that we should do the weeding out of people that do not think the way we do quickly. Kingdom living says no it is not our responsibility as Christians to do this.

It is important to state how we interpret what Jesus is saying about kingdom living, but also be willing to listen to those who are willing to listen. This does not mean that we are called to be disrespected. Boundary lines do have to be drawn and stated.

When one attends Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Jesus love is interpreted in our welcoming statement. This will not change, and it is up to individuals whether they choose to attend and participate. If you disagree with the welcoming statement you are still welcome here, but this is how we interpret Jesus’ love for all.

Our challenge is to realize that there will always be people who disagree with how we interpret Jesus teaching on kingdom living and God loves them too. I believe we are challenged to keep looking forward and be willing to be taught by Jesus through our study of the Word.

We are called to focus on the hope that we have in Jesus’ forgiveness, salvation, and new life that we begin to experience here and is completed when we leave this earth. JB Phillips paraphrases vs. 19 in our Romans text today-

^18-21 In my opinion whatever we may have to go through now is less than nothing compared with the magnificent future God has planned for us. The whole creation is on tiptoe to see the wonderful sight of the people of God coming into their own. The world of creation cannot as yet see reality, not because it chooses to be blind, but because in God’s purpose it has been so limited—yet it has been given hope. And the hope is that in the end the whole of created life will be rescued from the tyranny of change and decay and have its share in that magnificent liberty which can only belong to the children of God!

Our challenge is to keep looking forward, to have the hope of what is to come. This is what will help us not get bogged down in all of the complexities of life. Remain students of the Word and realize that we are still learning how to live on earth in this kingdom.

The 7^th Sunday after Pentecost – A 07/16/2023

          If you have planted a garden, this is the time of year that you would begin watching for growth and in some case ripe vegetables. Depending on where you live, it is important to determine when to plant what vegetables. In the UP you have to wait a little longer than probably down here.

          Wherever you are planting there will be a different type of soil. It may be better for some vegetables than others. Some soil may need some help, extra fertilizer, and even healthier soil to add to what is in the ground. To have any kind of yield will take work and patience.

          There are so many variables that put seeds at risk. Water is needed, but every summer is different with varying amounts of rain. The temperature plays a big role and that varies from summer to summer. We can’t forget the animals who like to feed on what has been planted. There are always weeds that need tending too.

          When working hard and with varying degree of patience to try and have a yield, what do you think of the farmer who just throws the seeds around and sees if it grows, it grows and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. ¾ of what is sown doesn’t produce a yield.

          Would you hire this farmer to work for you? Doesn’t this farmer seem a bit lackadaisical? Throw some seeds here. Throw some seeds there. With this kind of yield, it would be hard to make a living. If you needed a loan, I’m not sure the bank would consider this type of farming a good risk.

          At first reading, we may wonder what Jesus is up to. Jesus enjoys using parables, stories which may make you scratch your head and wonder what he is talking about. Parables are stories with earthly elements which the people can relate to. They also have a spiritual or heavenly element which relate to how-to live-in God’s kingdom.

          With this particular parable, Jesus was sitting by the sea and large crowds gathered around him. He then got into a boat and the whole crowd stood on the beach. He told everyone to listen and then told them the story about the farmer who threw the seed all around on different types of soil. This was an agricultural society; thus, he knew they would understand the earthly meaning of the parable.

          Now there is a break in this chapter at this point in our lectionary which leaves out an important part. It reads beginning in verse 10: Then the disciples came and asked him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" His audience has changed from the crowds to just his disciples. ¹¹Jesus answered his disciples, "Because the secrets or the knowledge of the kingdom of heaven are for you to know, but not for the crowds. ¹²For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. ¹³The reason I speak to them in parables is because they look, but do not see, and they listen, but do not hear or understand.' 

¹⁶But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. ¹⁷Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.

          Jesus is encouraging the disciples to believe that they can hear and see the spiritual or heavenly meaning of parable. There are many who are not able to, and the disciples are blessed to be able to perceive and understand if they choose to. Even though at first Jesus explanation may not make sense to them, they have the ability to understand the meaning of the parable.

          First they need to get past the fact that Jesus is always trying to jar people’s thinking. Just as I would not hire this farmer, does not mean that there is not something for me to learn about living in the kingdom from this parable. Jesus description of just scattering seed on any ground does not make a good earthly farmer, but when he compares it to the good news of the kingdom it makes a little more sense.

          Now what do we do with the fact that the yield was only about a quarter of what the farmer planted. This is quite disheartening. I’m sure there have been years with your gardens where you wonder if you really want to plant the same vegetables, or in the same place or same way the next year.

          On one hand for farmers who depend on their yield for their income, success is needed in order to keep their farm going and make an income. In this respect planters are responsible for where they sow the seed. It makes a big difference to address all the risks or variables such as water, temperature, animals and weeds.

          When sowing the seeds of the good news of the kingdom, we are called to sow them any place that we can. There are times that we need to be focused and we will seek the assistance of the Holy Spirit to discern that during this next year here at Faith. We will assess what we are doing and if there are more efficient ways to do the present ministries. Also, we will once again identify the needs of our community and discern whether we are called to other ministries.

          When it comes to sowing the seed of the good news of the kingdom there are no off-limit places, unless determined unsafe. The point is that this good news is for everyone everywhere. Even though at times it may seem like it may not be worth it, Jesus says yes it is.

          The good news for us is that we are not responsible for someone else’s growth. We are only responsible for sharing the good news. We may never see the growth, but we are assured in hope that God’s Word never comes back void.

          As disciples of Jesus Christ we are blessed to be able to hear and see, understand and perceive the secrets of the kingdom. In this passage that secret is that we are only responsible for telling others, all people, of the good news of God’s love for them. Jesus tells us just keep doing it, no matter if we see results or not.

This is a special musical presentation of Feeling Better by Ivan Trevino, performed today by Calvin Kadrofske on Marimba at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan

Every time we encounter change in our lives there are expectations, written and unwritten. It is the unwritten ones that can get us into trouble. The written ones, the ones that are directly communicated can definitely make us feel uncomfortable, but if they are put on the table at least we know where each other is at. It is much easier to deal with expectations that are communicated.

          I can be an exuberant person with many ideas. Unfortunately, that can put people off as I may not have fully stated my expectations. I want to state that I will make suggestions and there will be few times that I expect those suggestions to happen. I give you permission to ask me what my expectations are. This is the only way that we will be able to get to know each other and work together.

          In our Gospel lesson today people had many expectations and they were not met. The church and governmental leaders had expectations to maintain the status quo as it benefited them. Those who oversaw the keeping of the law were the Pharisees. Jesus addressed them in our Gospel lesson.

          Jesus compared this generation to children playing in the marketplace and calling to one another, we played the flute for you, and you didn’t dance, we wailed, and you did not mourn. Could it be that the expectation was not stated? Even if it was stated, one group was asking the other to do what they wanted them to do. This of course erases the ability to be themselves.

          After giving this example, Jesus got into the meat of the matter, the people’s criticism of neither Jesus nor John meeting the Pharisees’s expectations. John the Baptist was a strange person compared to others, clothed in camel’s hair, a leather belt around his waist and he ate grasshoppers and wild honey. Today we may think he is a homeless person. The question is could we see him as a prophet, a proclaimer of God’s word?

          The Pharisees in the Gospel lesson could not see how someone like John could be proclaiming God’s word, let alone be prophetic. They said he must have a demon. Because he did not meet their expectations, they wanted to discredit him. They did not like his message and could not accept that it was from God and that John was only a vessel.

          Jesus did not make the cut either. He ate and drank too much with the wrong people. They said “Look, he is to be the chosen one, but he is really just a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” Neither John nor Jesus met the Pharisee’s expectations.

          Jesus goes on to say that wisdom is vindicated by here deeds. This is an allusion to Proverbs 24:12-14

¹² if you say, “Look, we didn’t know what they were doing”—
    does not the one who weighs the heart see the truth?
Does not the one who keeps watch over your soul know what happened?
    And won’t everyone be paid according to their deeds? ¹³ My child, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb will be sweet to your taste.
¹⁴ Know that wisdom is sweet to your soul; find it and you will find a future,
    and your hope will be forever.

          For me this says that the sweetness of wisdom for our souls is being able to not have expectations for everyone else, except those that are discussed and agreed upon. It is easy for us to think that we have all the wisdom we need and our culture does teach that. Even though we think what would be best, doesn’t mean everyone else thinks that way.

          The Pharisees thought they knew how to keep the law and John and Jesus were not meeting their expectations in keeping the law. The even more difficult part for the Pharisees is that people were following John and Jesus, thus John and Jesus were leading people astray according to the Pharisees. Jesus was trying to tell them that wisdom doesn’t come from placing expectations on other people unless they were mutually agreed upon.

          When people do not follow through on things the way we want them to, we get frustrated and burdened. Jesus tries to tell the Pharisees, take a time out and reassess how and who God works through. It is not about our individual expectations being met. At least in the church, we are a community and wisdom about God can come through many different people. I believe sometimes we have to step back and realize that we are not responsible for everything.

          Jesus says to us today: ²⁸  If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. ²⁹  Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest. ³⁰ This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light.

          Moving is tiring and filled with a lot to do. I have found some things just happen and I need to adjust. I can have all of the expectations for others, even I believe that we have agreed upon them, it may not be set up to happen that way. The only thing I can do, that I have learned, is to try and let it go. Allow God in Jesus Christ to take it off of my shoulders. Unpacking was taken off of my shoulders by so many of you. Thank you.

          As we begin our work together, communication of expectations is extremely important for us to do the best ministry that we are called to do together. I have a great deal of experience in working with many different kinds of people. We are all different and have different stories. Where we have come from and what we are experiencing now makes a difference in how we react or respond to people.

          God in Jesus Christ can work through every person in this room and any human being. Our challenge is not to place our expectations on how God in Jesus Christ works through people and may be speaking to us. Part of putting this yoke on is letting God in Jesus do the work of communicating with us without us getting in the way.

          There will be times that each of us has to step back and listen to each other and communicate expectations. Acknowledge our anxiety and turn it back to God in Jesus Christ. You will hear me say time and time again if it is not on paper it doesn’t exist. When we are able to step back and be open to God in Jesus Christ is when we will find rest for our souls.

          Just as the Pharisees had their expectations of keeping the law, we also have our thoughts on how things should be done. This is normal and human. In our Gospel Lesson today, Jesus and John took the brunt of the Pharisees criticism’s in trying to discredit them.

          I will be the first to tell you that I do not have all of the answers. My questions and suggestions are not mandates, but they may sound challenging and create anxiety. This is when I need to hear from you. To do the work that we are called to do together in Jesus’ name we need to share what we are feeling. Then we need to give each other space to process.

          I believe that God has new things for Faith to do, our challenge is to communicate with each other our expectations and discuss them. The burden is light when we are all under God in Jesus Christ’s yoke working together for their purpose.

This is a special musical presentation of The Gift of Love sung by Mike Eschelbach, Diane Hill, and Linda and Rich Triemer at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan

This is a special musical presentation of Grace Alone sung by Tammy Heilman at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

The 5^th Sunday after Pentecost 07/02/2023

It is good to be here with you. The last few weeks have been a whirlwind and there is more to come. I could not be here preaching this morning without your help. You have made me feel welcome by extending your hospitality.

You have shared the marks of the kingdom – hospitality and the down-home cup of water, cleaning my new house and painting it. I have received great hospitality from Mike who has welcomed me into his home and provided me with food and fellowship. Mike is a good cook too. My challenge this week has been to receive it.

In our Gospel lesson today, we are at the end of Matthew’s discourse on discipleship. We hear Jesus saying to his disciples, “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.” Think about that for a moment, when we welcome someone we are welcoming Jesus and God. This is not only about welcoming someone, but it is also about receiving someone’s welcome. Giving and receiving Jesus and God.

Jesus is teaching his disciples and now us, that we are called to share Jesus and God with our neighbor and to receive Jesus and God from our neighbor. I believe in the end it is the Holy Spirit who draws us together into this beloved community. We cannot fully be Jesus and God, but with the help of the Holy Spirit we can give and receive Jesus and God.

I have tried to be gracious this past week and receive your welcome, your hospitality and cup of water. You can tell me how I did on the way out. I would not have come here if I did not feel God in Jesus Christ calling me here. They are the ones who have continued to work things out through you and many others.

To be able to sell a house and buy a house in this amount of time is divine intervention. It is a bit daunting to come to a new place and start over again without your spouse. After my closing in East Lansing this past week, it hit me that John is not physically with me. I do believe he is emotionally and spiritually with me. Thankfully I have many friends and I reached out to someone who lost his husband last August and is getting ready to move. I am viewing this connection as another receiving of Jesus and God.

Receiving a welcome, hospitality and a cup of cold water then is about trust. I have continued to take one step at a time, maybe a few more at a time, believing and trusting that this is God’s plan for me and you. There have been times that I have doubted and wondered if I really wanted to continue on. Moving and starting over again is not for the faint of heart. All along the way I have had encouragement through word and deed.

Jesus goes on to say, “Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward.” As a pastor I am called to be prophetic. This does not mean that I am here to tell you what will happen in the future. It does mean that I am here to challenge you, to ask you hard questions, to help you discover again “Who you are, Who your neighbor is and what is God calling you to do.

In the end it is about discovering truth. Without truth we cannot do God’s will. The truth is not always comfortable, but in order to grow in our individual and corporate faith it is necessary to discover truth. Thankfully the Holy Spirit will help us to do this.

Throughout this next year I will work with a transition team. I say a transition team rather than a call committee as a call committee needs what is called a Ministry Site Profile in order to do their work. The transition team will develop a plan to help the congregation answer these three questions. Who are we, who is our neighbor, and what is God calling us to do.

When we are able to answer these questions to the best of our ability at this time, we will have what we need to write the Ministry Site Profile. In a sense it will be Faith’s resume. This will be done through congregational events, examining what is working and what might not be working and praying for the Holy Spirit to help us discern what God has in store for Faith.

We find in scripture that prophets were not always welcome and often faced ridicule, rejection and death. Was this their reward? Seeking truth does not always make us popular. Prophets were called to point out the truth to those who had gone their own way. I will point out what I see and hear, but together we will discern with the help of Holy Spirit the truth.

When human beings become tired and frustrated, we turn inward and try and do it on our own. At this point the truth becomes more difficult to discern. Part of this next year will be decreasing anxiety in order to be able to discern more clearly God’s plan for Faith.

You may ask, how will we do this? By continuing to do what you have been doing. Connie and I are working with the staff on assessing the systems in our administration to make sure they are more user friendly and efficient. Even though I am not Pastor Ellen and will not be doing things exactly the same way, worship will continue and pastoral care along with all of the ministries will continue on.

We have strong lay leadership here at Faith. This is how you have continued on since Pastor Ellen and Katie left. I am not here to run every area of the church as there are capable people doing ministry here already. I will ask a lot of questions and may make suggestions.

Asking questions of ourselves and this community will cause anxiety. As disciples Jesus is telling us along with the disciples in our Gospel lesson that we are called to accept questions and peoples’ response to them. Even though they may make us feel uncomfortable, it may be Jesus and God speaking to us. Our challenge will be to give and receive Jesus and God.

Once again the signs of the kingdom are hospitality and giving that cold cup of water. Thus, Jesus is saying, I believe that as we go through this process of transition and discerning God’s will for Faith that there will be times that challenge us to think and do things differently. Once again the Holy Spirit is here to assist us through this time of transition and discernment.

Our coming together as pastor and congregation, this beloved community, is a time of testing out this discipleship that Jesus is talking about. How do we give and receive Jesus and God? We may say and do things that challenge our way of thinking and doing. What Jesus is looking for is how we do this inside and outside of our beloved community.

Do we give and receive Jesus and God with hospitality and a cup of water, the signs of the kingdom that Jesus is looking for?