Faith Scribbling

Focus Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46 November 26, 2023 “A Final Lesson” Today is Christ the King or Reign of Christ Sunday, the final Sunday in the church year. Next week is the beginning of Advent, the first Sunday of the year. Today’s lectionary texts make Jesus’ status as King over all the nations clear. Paul writes to the Ephesians about Jesus’s position “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion” (Eph 1:21). Jesus himself talks about himself sitting on the “throne of his glory.” Yes, Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords. We celebrate his reign on this special day. It is vital that we spend some time with the Matthew text because it is different than what has preceded it over the last weeks. Many of the Gospel lessons leading up to this point were parables, each with scenarios that describe behaviors of those who believe and those who don’t, those who work hard for the kingdom of God and those who hide and keep their heads down. Last week, the less...

  Focus Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 November 19, 2023 I served in the United States Army Reserve in the Military Police Corps. Basic training was at For McClellan, Alabama one long, hot summer in the 80’s, the year of the Chernobyl nuke plant meltdown. I only knew that because of the USA Today newspaper headline in the vending machine in the company common area. Yes, pre-internet.             One of the most memorable days in basic training was when we were exposed to tear gas. I did not say it was good, but it was memorable.             When we arrived for our appointment at the Disco Hut, the name of the building in which we were to have our encounter with the gas, the drill sergeants were almost giddy with anticipation. They were familiar with what was to come – they had seen it many times before – and they looked forward to our shocking moments of discover...