God wants to make us like Jesus. That is the clear message of today’s passage from the first letter of John. Listen again to the words: “Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed…when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is.” In other words God intends to work in us, with us and on us until we fully reflect the spirit and character of Jesus.   more...

Jesus said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”   more...

In today’s Gospel lesson, the Pharisees are at it again. They are trying to entrap Jesus with this question about taxes, attempting either to discredit him with his followers or to get him in trouble with the Roman authorities.   more...

As I read today’s passage from Paul’s letter to the Philippians in preparation for this sermon, I thought to myself, “What better passage to be reading during the current economic crisis in our country.” Listen to what Paul writes: “…whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss…” That sounds to me like someone who has been watching their investment portfolio in recent days.   more...

As I sat and watched the presidential debate the other night, I could not help but think about today’s gospel lesson and Jesus’ parable of the two sons, with its clear distinction between words and actions.   more...