Claimed, gathered and sent

Here are some thoughts on this coming Sunday's First Lesson. See what you think about the text and let me know your thoughts. This was sent electronically to the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church.  First Reading: Isaiah 55:1-9   1 Ho, everyone who thirsts,   come to the waters;  and you that have no money,   come, buy and eat!  Come, buy wine and milk   without money and without price.   2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,   and your labor for that which does not satisfy?  Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,   and delight yourselves in rich food.   3 Incline your ear, and come to me;   listen, so that you may live.  I will make with you an everlasting covenant,   my steadfast, sure love for David.   4 See, I made him a witness to the peoples,   a leader and commander for the peoples.   5 See, you shall call nations that you do not know,   and nations that do not know you shall run to you,  because of the Lord your God, the Holy...

This is the sermon I preached last Sunday, 3/17/19, at St. Timothy Lutheran Church. The gospel text is Luke 13:31-35 .                            Our gospel lesson from Luke is soap opera- esque with all the conflicting wants and desires it portrays. In the midst of the clashing cravings, Jesus grounds his ministry in the divine necessity, God’s desire for Jesus. The first want we come across is Herod’s desire to kill Jesus. This information is brought to Jesus by  some  Pharisees. They were not all lumped together. There were those who were sympathetic to Jesus’ mission. However, in essence, they were still encouraging Jesus to abandon that mission and save himself.  Herod’s was no idle threat. After all, Herod had beheaded John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin. You’d think Jesus would be scared, literally to death. Jesus doesn’t even mention Herod’s threat because he was so consumed with his mis...