Scripture - Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 The title we give to this parable gives away our point of view Prodigal Son = focus is on the younger son Angry Brother = focus is on the elder son Maybe “Two Jerks” is a better title; then we can focus on both sons! New title: “Loving Father” or Prodigal Father The story has 2 distinct acts Act 1: younger son Asks for - & gets – his inheritance (a disgrace) Basically saying, “Father, I wish you were dead.” Then he apparently sells his share of

Scripture - Luke 13:1-9 The prophet Obadiah wrote: But you should have taken no pleasure over your brother on the day of his misery; you shouldn’t have rejoiced over the people of Judah on the day of their devastation; you shouldn’t have bragged on their day of hardship (v. 12). The prophet laments the tendency of his people to find some sense of satisfaction in the troubles of others. We don’t like to admit, in polite company, that we have such feelings, but we do. Why el

Scripture - Luke 13:31-35 In the early 1970s, a Saturday night staple was the TV show, Emergency! It was a show about 2 brave paramedics from Squad 51 of the LAFD. When Johnny & Roy were in danger, pulses raced. Although not a devoted fan, I enjoyed the show. One week on a Saturday night my folks went to visit some friends & took my brother & me along. The children of our friends were not accustomed to watching Emergency! & so at 8:00 PM, they turned on another show. I

Scripture - Luke 4:1-13 Jesus was not a super hero. Many people today, including some devout Christians, see him as a kind of Christian version of a Marvel super hero, able to do whatever he wanted, able to ‘zap’ reality into any shape he liked. In the movies, Superman looks like a normal human being, but really he isn’t. Underneath the disguise he is almost indestructible. That is not the picture of Jesus we get in the New Testament. Luke has just reminded us of Jesus’ m

Scripture: Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 We don’t look forward to discipline, do we? As a child: a spanking (in my day!), or time-out As an employee: a poor work review As a driver: a traffic ticket As a society, we attempt to do this by removing the lines between right & wrong What’s right for you may not be right for me In my lifetime: Marijuana laws Out text is a call to discipline/repentance in order to save the nation of Judah The day of the Lord is coming - & it is not pleasant! A

Scripture - Luke 9:28-36 The story of the transfiguration of Jesus is the halfway point of Luke’s Gospel. The stories before it introduce Jesus to the world & chronicle his rise in popularity through his healing miracles & compelling teaching. After the transfiguration, Jesus turns toward Jerusalem, & toward the passion of Holy Week. Transfiguration Sunday is therefore the critical pivot of the liturgical year. It transitions the church away from the wonder of Advent & the