September 5

Beloved of Good Shepherd Church,

Grace to you and peace in Jesus Christ our Lord!

Jesus appears to say something mean to a young mother in the Gospel appointed for this Sunday. But we know Jesus, and we know him to be fundamentally loving, so I think we have good reason to give him the benefit of the doubt. The coarse word he says is in the 7th chapter of Mark’s Gospel. Because I suspect that Jesus was being clever and playful, not mean, I looked for evidence of his loving nature in the first 6 chapters to support my theory. Here’s what I found: He loves to make friends, cast out demons, heal sick people, make more friends, stick up for people who are being bullied, feed people, cast out more demons, and teach his friends how to do all these things and more. As far as I can tell, and I’ve taken a good look, he doesn’t have a mean bone in his body. I think he’s up to something “next level” in this exchange with the young mother. Come to church this Sunday and let’s look at it together! Here’s a question to prime the pump: Who do you need to give the benefit of the doubt? What evidence do you have that they are fundamentally loving and that therefore it is possible that your sense that they are being mean is off track?

Stick around after the 10:00 a.m. worship service this Sunday for our fall parish picnic. The church will provide the main course. You’re welcome to bring a dessert to share! Come join us! All are welcome! Bring a friend!

Remember this always - God loves you, and I love you too!

Love is all, 

Hendree+