On his way towards Jerusalem, Jesus has a brief encounter with three people seeking to be his disciples. The first one swears to follow him wherever he goes. The second one, whom Jesus invites to tag along, has to attend his father’s funeral first. And the third, simply wants to say goodbye to his wife and kids before he leaves.
 
Such simple responses and requests, right? So why does it seem Jesus is being dismissive to these would-be disciples? It’s not like him to be so disparaging. He must be doing something else. As we’ve been discussing this past month, Jesus isn’t  about dissing us, or shaming us. He wants to transform us and empower us for doing the work of the kingdom.

I think he says some weird shit like this to awaken and shake us from our slumber. Most of what is spoken from Jesus is said to challenge and change our perspective, and how we see ourselves in relationship to God and one another.
 
In his book Practicing the Way, John Mark Comer writes, “For Jesus, salvation is less about getting you into heaven and more about getting heaven into you. It's not just about Him becoming like us but also about us becoming like Him. It's less of a transaction and more of a transformation.”  In other words, how we follow is just as important as who we follow because both have eternal consequences.
 
Now, imagine Jesus inviting you to follow him. What would you say? Personally, I would like to believe I’d just get up and go, but I’m pretty sure I’d have some hesitations or questions.
 
Will I have to leave the church I helped plant? Am I allowed to bring my wife and kids? Should I pack a few pairs of clean socks and underwear?

What if Jesus came knocking on your door while you were doing laundry, or preparing dinner? Would you say “Yes, but…first let me fold the clothes or turn off the oven? That does not sound unreasonable, does it.

The thing is, Jesus doesn’t want any hesitation, he only wants action. He doesn’t need a “Yes, but.” He needs a “Yes, and.”
 
According to Luke’s story, which is also found in Matthew’s gospel, this might mean having to let go of everything that is materially important to you - your job, your home, your car and clothes, and even your loved ones - to faithfully follow him. It could even mean letting go of things that might be spiritually important to you. This is why it never surprises me that this is where most of us leave Jesus by the side of the road.
 
As I read this story, I couldn't help but wonder why Jesus felt the need to be so hard on these three. Couldn’t he have cut them some slack? I mean, what would it really cost his mission to give them a couple of minutes to say goodbye to his loved ones, or attend to his father’s funeral.

And yet, instead of showing kindness and placating their request, Jesus abruptly says, “Let the dead bury their own dead.”
 
To understand why that was some crazy shit to hear, we need to know how death was understood in ancient Jewish traditions.

First of all, death was seen and understood as a separation from God. Afterwards, one transitioned to Sheol, a shadowy existence devoid of the fullness of life. The psalmists often write about this lamenting, “In death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise?” (Psalm 6:5)

Second, burial rites were a sacred duty, deeply ingrained in the cultural and religious fabric. By asking a potential disciple to leave family duties and ritual observances behind, Jesus isn’t winning over many people.
 
Then again, Jesus isn’t looking to make friends as much as he needs to make more disciples. And this entails a radical reorientation of one’s priorities. One where your focus isn’t on the self, but on God and the kingdom of heaven.
 
There is nothing on your calendar or to-do list that is more important or more imperative than making God’s will your highest priority. So, if we want to follow Jesus then we must leave behind the spiritually dead ways of life, let go of that which is not life-giving. Therein lies the problem we face today.
 
Somewhere in history, Christians went from following Jesus to worshipping him. It might seem like a subtle difference, but as Richard Rohr argues in his book On The Threshold of Transformation, this has made us a religion of “belonging and believing” instead of a people of doing and transforming. 
 
A religion of belonging and believing is more concerned about who’s in and who’s out; what specific doctrines are held and practiced. A religion of transformation, on the other hand, focuses on change. Which only happens by getting your hands dirty - living out the gospel in real time.

Now, I hate to be the one who has to mention this, but nowhere in the Bible does Jesus say "Worship me." Yet, in all four gospels he repeatedly says, “Follow me.”

More than just walking beside him, this means to do what he does. Welcome who he welcomes. Love who he loves. Jesus clearly says, “Whatever you do to the hungry and naked and dying, you do also to me” (Matthew 25:31-46).
 
Putting up the Ten Commandments in schools doesn't make you a good Christian if you continue to take away a student’s free lunch, and support limiting their health care. When you cheer the Supreme Court's ruling to make homelessness a crime, remember Jesus says, “foxes and birds have homes, but I have nowhere to lay my head.”
 
Following Jesus is hard work. He doesn’t try to hide it. He says, “Whoever want to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).
 
The mark of discipleship is self-denial and making a total commitment to live out the gospel like Jesus did with every fiber of his being. For it’s in the doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly that transforms us, strengthens us, and prepares us to deal with whatever lies ahead.

This won’t make you popular. Or famous. Or even admired. In fact, you’ll be mocked and ridiculed. Like Jesus says, “People will hate you and revile you because of me” (Luke 6:22-23)
 
Let me say it again, the way of Jesus is countercultural. His way is a threat to our conventional wisdom and the powers that try to control it. But again, his focus isn’t on fitting into society. He came to transform it, to usher in the kingdom of heaven, which he does this by making God’s love and grace visible and tangible everywhere he goes.
 
Jesus calls out to us, to follow him, to walk this path and continue what he started. Because according to him, "The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few" (Matthew 9:37-38). The poet Wendell Berry wrote,  “There is much good work to be done by every one of us, and we must begin to do it.”

God needs all hands on deck. We can’t compartmentalize our faith anymore. We can’t wait until the clothes are folded and put away. Or the pizza’s done baking. There is no time for a good-bye party. Or a pity party. People are suffering from hunger and injustice, bigotry and violence. Homes are being destroyed. Children orphaned. Jobs lost. A whole generation is growing up without even knowing who Jesus is, muchless what God’s mercy and compassion feels like on their pain.
 
And so I look at this passage and all I can see is Jesus telling these three people there’s no time for half-hearted disciples. Or to put it in words we might understand better today, Jesus wants a 24/7 commitment. One that calls us to put our needs and wants behind us. And to never looks back.
 
We must let go of what is spiritually dead in our lives if we want to truly embrace the abundant life that Jesus offers. We must prioritize our spiritual commitments over societies expectations; even if it means sacrificing career ambitions for a life of service. Jesus gives us this assurance. “If you hold to my teachings,” he says,  “you are truly my disciple” (John 8:31).
 
To follow Jesus is to set aside our ego and desires, so we can faithfully love God, love others, and serve both. The nature of our faith is revealed by who we follow and what we do - bearing the fruit of the kingdom.

This is the greatest form of worship we can give to God. Hymns and prayers are nice, but you and me are better. The truth is stated clearly in James' letter to the churches. “For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead” (James 2:26).
 
You might not know what God needs you to do, or where you are being led to go but I don’t think that matters. Anamesa is everywhere. And God is too, filling that space between where you’ve been and where you’re going. Let us not forget Jesus says, “Wherever two or three are gathered in my name, I am there with you” (Mt. 18:20)
 
We are not alone. And through the Spirit of Christ, we are empowered to do what many might believe is impossible. Our Lord says, “I am the true vine and you are my branches. No branch can bear fruit by itself…If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit” (John 15:5-8).
 
So here’s the challenge for this sacred body of believers. We can play church. Or we can be the church. We can pretend to worship and honor him. Or we can imitate him, making God’s glory visible in every space we enter.
 
Through our acts of kindness and love, we can embody the life-giving presence of Christ for others. And in all the ways we show mercy and forgiveness, we can bear witness to the hope of his resurrection. To do this faithfully means an important part of us must die. But like Jesus declares, “whoever loses their life for His sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25).
 
As we go out into Anamesa, may we do so with a deep trust in God’s transformative power and promise; embracing the abundant life that Jesus gives to all.

May we never lose sight of the peace, joy, and sense of purpose that comes from following him - knowing it far outweigh any temporal sacrifices we are called to make.
 

​
Work Cited
Comer, John Mark. Practicing the Way: Be with Jesus, Become like him, and do as he did. (WaterBrook, 2024).
Rohr, Richard. On The Threshold of Transformation: Daily Meditations of Men. (Loyola Press, 2010).

​I suppose this is a good thing. Some of us don’t have good dads in their lives. Many don’t even know who their dad is or where they are. Your father might not be around anymore. Or you never had the opportunity to have children of your own to celebrate you today.

So, instead of going on about fathers, let’s continue to look at the shit Jesus says. And see how it challenges our conventional wisdom.
 
Remember, Jesus wants us to expand our thinking beyond our narrow gaze. Which seems all fine and dandy until you find yourself on the receiving end of his critique. I suppose this will be most of us today as Jesus confronts what nearly all Christians would consider a sacred cow.

The conventional wisdom and power of family.

Here we have Jesus teaching in his hometown, inside a packed house where more people are trying to get inside, perhaps to get close enough to hear what he’s saying or to be healed by him. His family is there too, somewhere in the crowd. We assume Jesus doesn’t know this because someone interrupts him to let him know what’s going on.
 
Now if my daughter came and told me my parents were here, I’d probably respond by saying, “Where are they?”

​This isn’t what Jesus does. He asks a rhetorical question, “Who is my mother? Who are brothers?” It might seem innocent to us, but this would have been a shocking thing to say to a culture based on tribe, kinship and family.
 
I’m sure it offended many, including his siblings. But like I have said before, Jesus isn’t out to offend anyone. His goal isn’t to shame or guilt, but to expand our understanding of ourselves in relationship to God and others. In this case, he is showing us a new way to see beyond the narrow confines of biology.
 
Jesus asks, “Who is my family,” and he doesn’t wait for anyone to answer. He just points to the crowd and says, “You are.” And before anyone can ask what he means, Jesus adds, “Anyone who does the will of my Father is my family.”  

Never mind he calls God his father, we’ll save that for another time. Jesus has just proclaimed something equally as radical - that God is for anyone and everyone.

God’s family is universal. It’s based on love and trust, not bloodline or tribal affiliation. And the way into this family isn’t through a religious system, but through faith in action. This has been the story since the beginning…or at least to Abraham who, as scripture tells us, God chose because of his faith and faithfulness, not blood or biology.
 
We also see it in Mary and Joseph whom Richard Rohr describes as “two laypeople who totally trusted their inner experience of God and followed it...with no one except God to reassure them they were right."

He argues that by faithfully submitting to the will of God, Mary and Joseph each defiled their cultural conditionings. And stepped out their religious "comfort zones" so God could create a new kind family through them - one that looks more like heaven than earth.
 
Today we have multicultural and multiracial families, blended families, traditional families, and same sex families. None of this seems shocking anymore. For the most part, all of these types of families begin from a place of love and respect; being bonded and starting a family with the person they care deeply for. In Jesus’ day, it wasn’t about love but economics and power. Marriages were arranged to either keep your status or extend it. And kids were a little more than insurance policies for that.
 
In first-century Palestine, your family was your primary social capitol. Everyone you interacted with, did business with, and worshipped with had roots that were deeply embedded in who you were. Your family name meant everything. Your value as a human was based on it. One doesn’t just simply walk away or abandon theirs. Now here’s Jesus saying none of it matters. And I’m sure it took a few people by surprise.
 
There’s a story in Mark’s gospel where a rich, young businessman wants to become a disciple. Jesus tells him to “sell everything you own and give the money to the poor. Then you can follow me” (Mark 10:17-27)
 
The man walked away distraught - and for good reason. More than just getting rid of the business he’s built, or the property he owns, or the money he has, Jesus is effectively telling him to abandon his family name if he wants to claim this new one called “disciple.”

​Who here would give up every last bit of yourself, For the name Christian?

Although Jesus pushes the boundaries of our conventional wisdom, it’s not all for nothing. Jesus says, “Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake…will inherit eternal life” (Matthew 19:29). This was a powerful thing to say.
 
In a time when a good family name bought you certain privileges, Jesus turns our conventional wisdom upside down. He takes all its power and places it back where it belongs - with God.

He tells us “not to store your treasures on earth where moths, rust and thieves can destroy them.” Instead, “Store your treasure in heaven” where your value is no longer tied to who you are, but by what you do.

​Jesus understands all the dynamics of family; he obviously had one, and probably  had to deal with the pettiness of sibling rivalry. He knows how being part of a community like family requires constant attention and patience, as well as steadfast love and forgiveness.

The church is no different. Although we all come from different backgrounds and hold different opinions and politics, Jesus reminds us that in God’s family, we are all equals.

We must set aside our petty differences and family squabbles, and bend to the will of God. According to the prophet Micah who asked: “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).

Jesus wants mercy and justice, kindness and love, be our new names, not Jew or Gentile, not sinner or saint. When our name is synonymous to God’s inclusive love, then we know we’re doing God’s will.

​Faith is not passive. It’s love in action. It must be live it out as if it’s the only thing that keeps us alive. For we cannot love God without loving others and serving both.

Jesus says, “the one who believes in me will also do the things I do and in fact, will do greater things than me” (John 14:12). Here Jesus seems to be saying that God believe in us. But do we believe in God enough to follow his Son to actually put our faith in what he says? And do what he does?

As challenging this might seem, let’s not forget we have God’s divine DNA embedded deeply within us. While we may not get to pick our earthly family, we all can become a part of God’s family. Jesus says, “All who receive me… become children of God, …born not out of human will, but God’s will” (John 1:12-13).

In John’s gospel, Jesu describes God’s will simply as this, “Love one another as I have loved you.” And then he adds, “there is no greater love than to lay downs one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:12-13)

That is the power of love - faith in action. The more we live it out, the more likely we are to reconcile than retaliate; seek peace instead of conflict; or give of ourselves for the common good instead of taking for personal gain.

​The more we live out God’s love, the more we realize who we truly are. We are God’s beloved children.

So, it goes without saying that the only Father we should celebrate, today and every day, is Our Father, who art in heaven. And the best way we can honor and dote on God is by welcoming and loving everyone as your mother, brother, and sister.


Work Cited
Rohr, Richard. The Prophetic Holy Family homily on Christmas Day 2023. (Accessed on June 15, 2024).

You might recall from last week that Jesus began his ministry telling us to repent. But the Greek word “metanoia” that was translated as repent isn’t about feeling remorseful for your sins as much as it is an invitation to change our thinking and behavior, so sin is no longer a thought.

​Today, he tells us to what extent we are to do this. That is to say, our thinking and doing must go above and beyond the very best religious teachers and scholars.
 
In this case, the Pharisees, who are a group of religious leaders known for their strict adherence to God’s Law. The Pharisee were so obedient to the Law that their name is synonymous with righteous. Which for many of us today, can elicit images of prideful people, filled with self-admiration for themselves and harsh criticism for people they deem to be sinners.
 
The Pharisees have gotten a bad rap. Historically speaking, the Christian church hasn’t helped their reputation much by accusing them of killing Jesus. But “It wasn’t the Pharisees who killed Jesus, it was conventional wisdom” argues Richard Rohr. It seems the shit Jesus says always tends to threaten the way the world works. It's probably because rarely is our world aligned with God’s world.
 
Truth is, the Pharisees were the good ones. They were reformers intent on bringing the Jewish people back to God. They believed the best way to do that was through strict obedience to the Law of God, something they thought Jesus was undermining.
 
As Matthew states, Jesus didn’t come “to change the laws and prophets, but to uphold them” (Mt. 5:17)

And as we are about to see, this doesn’t mean blindly following a set of rules or adhering to some religious practice and performance. I believe Jesus is telling us to go one step further…to go above and beyond the basic rules and regulations. He wants us to deepen the meaning and expand our understanding of righteousness.
 
If we listen to what he says, and watch what he does, we learn how to live in a right relationship with God and others…like he does. We will see how that involves embracing and embodying a life that is intimately tied to justice and mercy as it’s stated in Hebrew scripture.
 
The prophets, from Amos to Isaiah, all emphatically declare true worship of God isn’t about rituals and dogma it’s about caring for the widows and orphans, advocating for the oppressed, being charitable, living with integrity, practicing peace and forgiveness.

This is how we exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees who always take offense to Jesus when he says things like “Do not judge, do not condemn” (Luke 6:37). “Do not practice your piety in public” (Mt. 6:1).
 
One on hand, Jesus is pushing against the way of the Pharisees. But on the other, he’s showing us how to reimagine the law and bring it into its intended completion - which is to transform people’s lives. That’s how Jesus redeems and saves us…even if it means he has to break the rules to do it.
 
We see this when Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:7-31). He breaks both social and religious taboos just by speaking with her; she was a Samaritan and a woman after all. But Jesus sees beyond her gender and ethnicity. He sees a beautiful child of God, and offers her living water; a symbol of spiritual renewal and inclusion. By this act of defiance, Jesus transcends the boundaries of the Law to fulfill its deeper purpose: transforming and reconciling humanity.
 
A similar thing happens when he visits the house of a despised tax collector (Luke 19:1-10). In this story, Jesus shows us how our quest for righteousness will include actively seeking and embracing those who are hated, marginalized, and shunned. The mere fact that Jesus was in Zacchaeus’ home changes everything in this man’s life, prompting him to repent and make restitution.
 
Feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, welcoming children, giving to everyone who begs from you without asking for anything in return - Jesus says this is how righteousness is defined and a lived out in the kingdom of heaven.
 
While it sounds beautiful and attainable, remember this is the kind of stuff that gets Jesus killed. It’s one thing to hear what Jesus says, but it’s another to live out his words in a way that threatens conventional wisdom. And I’m not so sure most of us are up for the task.
 
Think about how many self-proclaiming Christians would rather choose gun rights over human rights?

How many churches are fine with excluding certain groups of people instead of welcoming them?

How many preachers wear pins that say Jesus loves you, while holding up signs that say God hates you?

Jesus says, “A tree is known by its fruit…and on the day of judgement you will have to account for every careless word you utter” (Mt. 12:33-36).
 
But here’s the thing, if we take Jesus’ words to heart, if we “turn the other cheek,” (Mt. 5:39) or “love our enemies,” (Mt. 5:44) or “give to the needy in secret,” (Mt. 6:1-4) then we will be salt of the earth kind of people (c.f. Mt. 5:13).

Jesus says, “Let your body be a lamp to the world” (Mt. 6:22-23). We must let our light shine, not so people can see how good we are, but so they can see their way back to God.
 
Jesus sends his church out to be “sheep among wolves.” He says, “Go and proclaim the good news that kingdom of heaven has come near.” Jesus tells his followers to “cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons (c.f. Mt.10:5-15). What he never says is hate, or take up arms, or deny certain people access to God
 
Following Jesus is more than just following a set of rules. It’s a call to go beyond legalistic interpretations of morality and embody a higher ethical and spiritual standard. One that honors the intrinsic worth and dignity of every individual as bearers of God's image.

For St. Theresa of Calcutta that meant seeing the face of Christ in the poor and rejected. Then loving them and caring for them as if she was doing it to Jesus himself.
 
Anthony Clavier writes, “The road to holiness is the path of love, compassion, of caring and sympathy, of helping each other along that journey, stopping to assist those who have become tired, have fallen on the way, or who have given up in despair.”
 
One of the last things Jesus tells his disciples is simply this, “Love one another as I have loved you.”

Love is the greatest commandment.

Love is the foundation of “all the Law and the Prophets.”

Love is the key to understanding and living out our righteousness.

And the way we love God, …is to love others and serve both.
 
This is how we bear the fruit of the kingdom. And become a light that cannot be hidden. This is how we can do better than the Pharisees, as we unlock the space between heaven and earth until they are one.
 
 
Work Cited
Clavier, Anthony. A Loving Law. February 9, 2014. (Accessed on June 7, 2024).
Rohr, Richard. The Sermon on the Mount. (Franciscan Media, 2006).

We could argue if the gospel writers are quoting him verbatim, but that would miss the point of what they are trying to make. Jesus says what he says to wake us out of our complacency; to change and transform us from the inside out.

​So, if you’re not offended in some way or another, then you’re probably not taking Jesus’ words to heart, or living out his truths in any meaningful way.
 
Jesus came to change us. That’s how he saves us. But most of us don’t like change. We would rather accept the status quo, or at least side with it, because it’s harder to deny ourselves and take up our cross to follow him.

Yet, change is inevitable. It’s bound to happen to everyone who dares to live by the amazing shit Jesus says. But don’t take my word for it, here’s what Jesus has to say:

Now, hearing the word “repent” used to raise the hackles on the back of my neck. Often conjuring up old memories of screaming, sweaty preachers wagging their fingers at me, and telling me I would spend eternity in the flames of God’s BBQ grill if I didn’t renounce sin the way they thought I should.
 
In seminary I discovered Jesus doesn’t say “repent” he says “metanoia” which means something very different in the Greek. Our confusion began when St. Jerome translated the Bible from Greek to Latin. He translated “metanoia” as “due penance” which eventually evolved into repent.
​
If we parse the Greek, we learn “meta” means “to go beyond” and “noia” means “mind.” The most literal meaning would be “to go beyond one’s mind.” Or to use common vernacular I think Jesus is saying, “change your mind.”
 
You see, Jesus is not demanding us to feel remorseful or penitent for our sins, which are good for us to do - we should feel contrite especially when we harm others. And of course, Jesus didn’t come to shame us or guilt us to believe him either. He came to transform and to save us.
 
He starts by emphatically saying, change your way of doing things so sin is no longer a thought. Jesus begins his ministry by reorienting our entire perspective; one that sees the world and our lives through the lens of God’s kingdom. 
 
As we will discover, Jesus wants more from his followers than to simply learn some new social ethic. He wants us to embody and live this new ethic in a way that will shock and offend the world awake. He wants an inward change, a change of heart, a change of thinking, a change in the way we see and approach the world.
 
So, we can say with some great degree of confidence that true repentance moves us away from our self-centered ways to a God-centered worldview that challenges the established norms and systems of power we have created.
 
This is exactly what got Jesus in trouble and eventually killed. He didn’t play by the rules of the world. Instead, Jesus was perfectly obedient the rules of God. He says it himself, “I didn’t come to change the laws and prophets, but to uphold them” (Mt. 5:17-18). This earned him the title in John’s gospel as the very Word of God (John 1:1; 14). Jesus lived God’s word, or Torah, so perfectly that the two became one.
 
Metanoia is not only a doorway for us to reimagine how we perceive reality, make decisions, and interact with others it is also a way to be one with Christ who ushers in a new world and a new world order.
 
Jesus says, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Spoiler alert! This heaven Jesus is talking about is this space we call Anamesa.

​If we are to believe what Jesus says is true, then heaven is not just some far away celestial, all-inclusive resort. It’s here, in this present space and time. It’s happening right now.
 
Which is why it is imperative for each one of us to look within ourselves and ask, “How does knowing that God has brought heaven to us, change or challenge the way you see and interact with all of creation?”

Although these sayings are nearly 2,000 years old, Jesus’ words are still relevant today. Given the current challenges the world is facing, it’s becoming more apparent that we need to change both the way we understand the kingdom of heaven and how we live in it - economically, politically, legally, and relationally. 

If we are going to take what he says seriously, then we must take an honest look at our own complicity in these systems.
 
We live in an age where material and economic success is often achieved at the expense of human dignity and flourishing. Jesus says, “You cannot serve two masters” (Mt. 6:24)  It’s either God or wealth. Never both
 
Jesus also says, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s. And to God what is God’s” (Mark 12:17) He isn’t telling us to build a Christian nation or to belong to any particular political party. He is reminding us that this world and everything in it belongs to God to whom we must give our true allegiance.
 
Like we see in our own country, governments around the world are under threat from arrogance, corruption and power struggles that are undermining justice; perpetuating inequality and oppression, by favoring the rich over the poor. How quickly we forgot Jesus says, “Whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave” (Mt. 20:27).
 
While individualism continues to erode our relationships, communities and solidarity, what Jesus said then still rings true, “love your neighbor” (Mark 12:30-31) and “reconcile with those who have harmed you” (Mt. 5:23-24).
 
Again, Jesus isn’t telling us to repent so we can get into heaven. He’s inviting us to change the way we think so heaven can get into us.
 
Through Christ, “God is changing the world,” writes Richard Rohr. “But to get everyone and everything there, God needs people who are willing to enter this kingdom and transform it into “life and life more abundantly” (John 10:10).
 
To follow Jesus is to embody his likeness, mimic his actions, and to live faithfully by his words. When we see the world through his eyes, we can’t help but be moved into action.
 
When we feel the world through his heart, it’s impossible not to express compassion and mercy; especially to the weak, marginalized and poor.
 
When we reimagine the world through all the weird things he says, we can’t help but be moved to make real changes and real differences in our own lives and in the lives of others.
 
The kingdom of heaven has come. It’s here. It’s now. So let us repent. And enter into its glory; loving God, loving others, and serving both in the name of Christ Jesus, amen.
 
 
WORK CITED
Adapted from Be The Way…Or In The Way. January 26, 2020.
Adapted from Change Your Mind. Change Your Direction. January 22, 2023.
Rohr, Richard. The Mind Does Not Like To Change. January 25, 2020.