Claimed, gathered and sent

These are some thoughts about this coming Sunday's gospel that were sent to the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church.   Please feel free to be part of the conversation. I'd love to hear your feedback. Gospel: Luke 6:27-38  [Jesus said:]  27 “But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,  28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.  29 If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt.  30 Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again.  31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.    32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.  33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.  34 If you lend to those from whom you hope to r...

This is the sermon I preached last Sunday, Feb. 17 at St. Timothy Lutheran Church . The scripture text was Jeremiah 17:5-10 .  Life is full of good and trouble, blessings and woes. It’s just the way things are. We rejoice in the bouquet of beautiful flowers sent to make us feel better when we’re sick but oh when that doctor’s bill comes. We enjoy a delicious hamburger cooked to perfection but then it comes with stale French fries. And there are many other, more serious dichotomies that we face daily.  Today’s reading from Jeremiah compares two ways of living life: the way that is cursed (vv. 5-6) and the way that is blessed (vv. 7-8) and then Jeremiah wraps it all up with a reflection on the human heart (vv. 9-10). The main theme throughout is trust—what do you trust in, how do you know what to trust in and what in the end proves to be reliable? The curses and the blessings set up contrasts to develop the theme of trust, each section beginning with a direct state...