March 19, 2022

Dear Road Church Friends,

The scripture assigned to be read and reflected upon this third week of Lent draws our attention to the subject of grace. Upon hearing reports of people’s lives being snuffed out by a collapsing tower, and a bloody massacre, Jesus warned his hearers against jumping to the conclusion that somehow the victims were to blame for their tragic fate. That conclusion assumed that those who perished in the way they did were worse sinners than the rest of us. It also suggests that God is hovering over each of us, ready to strike us dead, or punish us in some way. Jesus believed that was a misreading of God’s character, so he told a story about a fruitless fig tree that was given a second chance. We are living in a season of grace.

SCRIPTURE:  Luke 12:54 — 13:9         SERMON:  Embrace Grace

Jesus said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say that it’s going to rain. When you see the south wind blowing, you say today will be a scorcher. You know how to predict the weather, but you don’t understand what’s going on around you. If you suffer from bad judgment, you should settle your all your cases out of court before your accuser drags you before the judge, and the judge rules against you, and throws you in jail.”

Just then someone told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.”

Then he told this parable: “A man planted a fig tree in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, ‘For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’  The gardener replied, ‘Sir, let it be for one more year. I will cultivate and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you still have the option to cut it down. '"

A PRAYER FOR PEACE

Our world is merely a pale blue dot in the great universe which you, O God, have created to be our home. You sent Jesus to show us the way to turn the earth into a planet whose creatures are not tormented by wars, nor torn apart by senseless divisions according to race, religious creeds, or national origins. Grant us the courage, wisdom and faith to live on earth according to your will, so that our children and grandchildren may one day take pride in being called your children, created in your image. Amen

WHERE IS HEAVEN?

Does not Heaven begin that day when the eager heart can say,

Surely God is in this place, I have seem him face to face,

In the loveliness of flowers, in the service of the showers,

And his voice has talked to me in the sunlit apple tree.

by Bliss Carmen

Blessing,

Pastor Norm

The morning worship service on YouTube: https://youtu.be/V5L-9dbngE0