3 November 2026 - bad excuses

 

Today's Readings
(Audio)

“Blessed is the one who will dine in the Kingdom of God.”

We face the risk of recognizing the possibility of this blessedness in the abstract but then failing to respond to the invitation. The banquet sounds amazing, the facilities impressive, and the menu delicious. But the realities of our daily life seem too pressing. We may think we are simply putting it off, or we may be hoping for a different, still better invitation in the future. And yet, no matter the form the invitation takes we never seem to respond with our whole hearts. We seem content to allow our mundane daily existence to keep us preoccupied and trapped.

But one by one, they all began to excuse themselves.

The things we choose instead of the wedding banquet of the Kingdom aren't even necessarily that good. We may have some sympathy for the person who was just married. But what about the guy who wanted to go and inspect some property he just acquired? What made him choose that over a fabulous feast? It seems easy to pass judgement on such characters through the safe lens of a parable. But we are basically like them. Somehow the feast seems to lack a sufficiently robust reality in our minds to motivate us. We consider it something more than imaginary, but not quite on the same level as worldly relations, transactions, and business. Really, quite the opposite is true. The worldly realities are the ones that are only temporary, destined to pass away. The thickness of the reality of the banquet is because its roots are in eternity and it shall never end. If we wonder why this is so hard for us to get our heads around we ought to look to those who do seem to get it, to see what distinguishes them.

Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town
and bring in here the poor and the crippled, the blind and the lame.

The people who get it are often the people who are not sated with the things of this world. Among them there are those who find it impossible to be satisfied with the world because of the circumstances of their lives. And there are also those who refuse to be satisfied, because they know that too much satisfaction with this life is a trap, based on a false promise. These are all people of the beatitudes who are not addicted to wealth or pleasure or power. Their pure hearts are able to see through to the truth of the invitation. Others of us, whose hearts are preoccupied with earthly things, lose the ability to see spiritual things clearly. Earthly things are bright and blinding, loud and deafening. Spiritual things do not overwhelm our senses in this way. They are subtle and require discernment and attention. If we spend too much time focusing on the former we will found ourselves unable to see the later.

The master then ordered the servant,
‘Go out to the highways and hedgerows
and make people come in that my home may be filled.

The master wants people who want what he has to offer. He is not planning to send soldiers to force people to sit rigidly and quietly at a banquet they do not wish to attend. And so, if we do desire the banquet at some level, we must become people capable of responding to the invitation. We must find a way to leave room in our hearts, even in the midst of everything going on around us, and all our pressing concerns, to truly hear and comprehend what the master is offering. The only way to ensure this is to "Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus", willing to let go of our rights and prerogatives because we are confident that God has something better still in store for us.

Dan Schutte - Table Of Plenty

2 November 2026 - its about him

 

Today's Readings
(Audio)

On this commemoration of all of the faithful departed we celebrate our communion with those who have gone before us united to Christ in the hope of the resurrection, but who are still undergoing their final purification before they seem him face to face. The focus is not so much on the fact of the purification as it is on the certainty of the hope. On one level there might be some helpful fear that can motivate us to get our own acts together so that we can avoid as much of purgatory as possible. But today is really more about confidence in our hope because of our communion with these deceased brothers and sisters.

And this is the will of the one who sent me,
that I should not lose anything of what he gave me,
but that I should raise it on the last day.

Confidence is actually a more robust motivation to help us in our pursuit of holiness than is fear. Fear might be potent in the short-term. But when we feel fear we might have the mistaken sense that it all comes down to us and our efforts. Thus when things become difficult, or feel impossible, we are more likely to give up if fear is all we have on which to rely. We are right to fear our fallen sinful human nature, our ability to ignore or squander the grace that God desires to give us. We are right to acknowledge that his holiness is a consuming fire. But our confidence helps us to realize that his strength is even greater than our weakness, that it is ultimately far more about him than it is about us.

But God proves his love for us
in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

When we pray for the dead who are still being purified we acknowledge the fact that, for them, hope is certain. They know that it is only a matter of time before they see Jesus face to face. In our union with them they help us to share in their own unclouded vision, their view of the end of the race. They know what it means to let the grace of baptism have its full effect and help us to see how worthwhile it is to give ourselves entirely over to that gift in our own lives.

We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, 
so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead 
by the glory of the Father, 
we too might live in newness of life.

As long as we don't give up on Jesus he won't give up on us. From the faithful departed we learn a sense of urgency for responding to the call of Jesus, one that is not primarily motivated based on fear and avoidance of punishment, but rather based on our growing awareness of the magnitude of his unstoppable love.

For this is the will of my Father,
that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him
may have eternal life,
and I shall raise him on the last day.

Brian Doerksen - Refiner's Fire

 

1 November 2026 - marching orders

Today's Readings
(Audio)

The beatitudes are strategies for avoiding the illusions of worldly fulfillment in order to find the things that truly satisfy. We might be so bold as to rephrase them this way:

Blessed are those who do not seek wealth as their ultimate goal, they will receive a lasting reward, and true treasure in heaven.
Blessed are those who are not addicted to worldly comfort, they will be open to "be comforted" by God himself, who will wipe away every tear (see Revelation 21:4).
Blessed are those who do not seek power as their highest good, they will share in the victory of Jesus in the battle that truly matters (see John 16:33).
Blessed are those who refuse to be content with the injustice and compromise of the world, in the end they will see their desires realized (see Luke 18:7).
Blessed are those who are willing to  forego vengeance or strict justice in favor of mercy whenever possible, since, in doing so, they welcome the source of all mercy.
Blessed are those who hearts aren't filled with the toxic words and images with which the world tries to fill them (see Luke 6:44-46). They will remain sufficiently clear to see the only vision that matters, the only sight that can satisfy the heart.
Blessed are those who attempt negotiation and conciliation rather than resorting to violence. In doing so they become like Jesus himself, who came to save us, rather than condemn us (see John 3:17).
Blessed are those who are not deterred from playing their part for the Kingdom of God because of threats, violence, or other opposition. Since it is necessary to undergo trials for the sake of the Kingdom (see Acts 14:22), only people with such firm resolution can attain it.
Blessed are those who do not shrink from confessing Jesus as Lord because of insults, slander, or persecution. Jesus will more than recompense whatever we suffer for the sake of his name. This is why we read that the disciples in Acts were "rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name" (see Acts 5:41).

God does not enjoin the beatitudes on us merely because they are good for us, but because they reflect the priorities of his own heart when it is expressed in a human life. Thus, they perfectly summarize the attitudes of Jesus himself, who preferred nothing to the will of his Father. But do we see how they also perfectly capture the heart of Mary? Mary was she who, in her Magnificat rejoiced in her lowliness. Repeatedly we are told that she kept the pure treasure of God's words and deeds as the central focus of her heart (see Luke 2:19, Luke 2:51). 

The beatitudes are not merely meant to be a positive spin on a fallen world. They are the only path to joy. They are the blueprint for becoming who were are meant to be. They take as many expressions as their are people. In the saints we recognize the manifold shapes that living the beatitudes can take. Far from religion insisting on conformity and taking away what makes us unique, the beatitudes allow us to become our true selves, and empower us to overcome our false selves enslaved by fear. The benefits of the beatitudes really do begin here and now, even in this life, since they save us from so many false promises. But they reach their culmination in a climax of worship that we hope to enjoy, together with the saints we celebrate today, in the courts of heaven.

After this I had a vision of a great multitude,
which no one could count,
from every nation, race, people, and tongue.
They stood before the throne and before the Lamb,
wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.
They cried out in a loud voice:

"Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne,
and from the Lamb."

 

Oasis Worship - Salvation Belongs To Our God

 

  

Trevor Thomson - For All The Saints

31 October 2026 - assigned seating

Today's Readings
(Audio)

 

“When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet,
do not recline at table in the place of honor.
A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him,
and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say,
‘Give your place to this man,’
and then you would proceed with embarrassment
to take the lowest place.

In general it is a good practice to not overestimate our own importance, taking the highest places because we think we deserve them more than others. It is even more important to not try to posture for positions which we know we do not deserve. But there is more to this parable than a general recipe for social gatherings. It is about a wedding banquet, that is, the coming together of God and man in the person of the bridegroom, Jesus Christ, and his bride, the Church. 

Rather, when you are invited, 
go and take the lowest place
so that when the host comes to you he may say,
‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’

Thus, what we must avoid is to attempt to fill the highest places in our hearts and in our worlds with anything other than Jesus Christ. The highest position at the banquet table is meant for him and him alone. If we try to fill it with anything else the best we can hope for is to be asked to relinquish our place. Then, whether do so or not will come down to whether we will humble ourselves before him or whether we take offense at him.

 

Jesus did not immediate come to jockey for the positions which the world, in its pride, had already occupied. He himself came and took the lowest place. It was our host, his Father, who invited him, through the resurrection and ascension, to the highest possible place. He did not come to fight for his place since he knew that was unlikely to do anything but antagonize the prideful and the powerful. Rather, by taking the lowest place he chose a way in which a genuine invitation might be made me to those who needed to change seats. Indeed, it showed them that it was not such a bad thing to have the lowest spot if even the highest man might choose it. But so too, when the Father called him higher, did it demonstrate the validity of his claim to be the one for whom the whole wedding banquet was being held, and therefore vindicated his claim to the highest position. This was how God cast down the mighty from there thrones and lifted up the lowly. Those who clung to their perceived mightiness would not willingly arise to join in the feast. But those who humbled themselves enough to be lifted up by God would enjoy the eternal banquet.

Christ will be magnified in my body,
whether by life or by death.
For to me life is Christ, and death is gain.
If I go on living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me.
And I do not know which I shall choose.

Paul was an example of one who had previously chosen an exulted seat but responded with humility when God revealed his Son to him. After that Paul let go of his own claims to greatness and no longer felt the need to be have the final say about his own destiny. He was content with whatever path God would give him, even up to an including dying for Christ. But he was not so eager to depart with Christ that he was reluctant to continue his work in the world. He was able to continue that work with the full strength of his heart. But even this complete level of commitment did not imply that he could not at a moment's notice leave it all behind to be with the Lord. Most of us sit on one side or the other. We are either so involved in the world that we can't bare to part with it, or else so ready for heaven that we have become useless to the world. As Jesus recommends and as Paul demonstrates we must let the host, rather than our self-will, determine our direction. We know that, whatever form it takes, end result will be deliverance.

 

Elevation Worship - There Is A King

 

30 October 2026 - discerning what is of value

Today's Readings
(Audio)

Jesus spoke to the scholars of the law and Pharisees in reply, asking,
“Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath or not?”

The fact that he often healed on the sabbath was a common critique of the ministry of Jesus. His opponents implied that this reflected a lack of concern for the law of God and a lack of faithfulness to God's covenant. For them, love of God and love of neighbor were unrelated to the point that they could contradict. What Jesus wanted to show them was that they were excessively attached to an incorrect interpretation of the sabbath. But the scholars of the law and the Pharisees did not hold these beliefs without reason. They no doubt knew about the promises of the prophets for the people if they would hold the sabbath in honor

If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath,
from doing your pleasure on my holy day,
and call the Sabbath a delight
and the holy day of the Lord honorable;
if you honor it, not going your own ways,
or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; 
then you shall take delight in the Lord,
and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth;
I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken (see Isaiah 58:13-14).

They were probably even aware that the promises regarding the sabbath were tinged with messianic hope.

If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath,
from doing your pleasure on my holy day,
and call the Sabbath a delight
and the holy day of the Lord honorable;
if you honor it, not going your own ways,
or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; 
then you shall take delight in the Lord,
and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth;
I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken (see Jeremiah 17:24-27).

Jesus's apparent disregard for rigorous regulations regarding the sabbath probably seemed to count against him as a potential messiah. If he were really the one sent by God, wouldn't he be leading the charge of enforcing these rules to the maximal degree? But this was in the end little more than a willful misunderstanding on the part of his opponents. On the one hand, their observance of the sabbath had become more of an excuse for omissions of necessary acts of love and mercy. It was a do not disturb sign on the door of their lives lest they be bothered by the concerns of others, about which they could care less. And on the other hand, it was a convenient critique to level at one whom many were beginning to suspect might be the messiah.

“Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern,
would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?”  
But they were unable to answer his question.

Before they could reiterate their criticism of Jesus's typical sabbath behavior he unveiled the flaw in their logic. The sabbath was meant to ensure that all servile work was set aside in favor of enjoying relationship with God. But there was a difference between avoiding servile work and failing to help those creatures, made in the image of God, who were in need. The sabbath, after all, could not merely be celebrated by one individual. It was meant to be the expression of the full people of God thriving in communion with him. It was not what it was meant to be without including everyone who desired to participate. This meant that removing obstacles to such participation, including curing the sick, was not only acceptable, but necessary. There was in fact no better day than the sabbath for Jesus to unleash healing and freedom.

Jesus wanted the Pharisees to learn the skill about which Paul also wrote to the Philippians.

And this is my prayer:
that your love may increase ever more and more
in knowledge and every kind of perception,
to discern what is of value,
so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
filled with the fruit of righteousness
that comes through Jesus Christ
for the glory and praise of God.

And this is what we need as well. Our darkened minds are more than able to twist the word of God into excuses that justify our preferences and prejudices rather, than allowing ourselves to be accountable to the word, and allowing it transform us. Jesus, through his Spirit, teaches us what has value, and empowers us to bear fruit. May we too learn to live "for the glory and praise of God".

 

Songs In His Presence - The House Of God

 

29 October 2026 - not in this vineyard

Today's Readings

(Audio)

  

Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said,
“Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you.”

Jesus wasn't subject to manipulation by fear, threats, or bullies. The reason for this wasn't because he planned to overwhelm them by over-matching them in terms of strength. Rather, he knew that whatever their plans, whatever their threats, those plans were being woven into the larger plan of his Father. At times, Herod might have wanted to kill Jesus. But it was not going to be the decision of Herod as to when, where, or how Jesus would die. The life of Jesus was not taken from him against his will. He freely chose to lay it down for us. In how he lived this out, Jesus demonstrates for us the courage that we too can manifest if we first clothe ourselves with the armor of God. Then, when the devil tries to derail us, as it did him, we too will be able to stand fast.

Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm
against the tactics of the Devil.

What Jesus manifested naturally and completely in his fearless trust in his Father is something we have to work at gradually and intentionally. Our armor is a gift from Jesus, and, through baptism, it is already our possession. But it is no good to us if we leave such armor in our closet. We have to wear it for it to avail for us. Donning the armor of God is meant undertaken at all levels, including our thoughts, our words, and our deeds. For instance, we must think true thoughts, speak true words, and act in accord with the deepest truth of things. When we put on the whole armor of God the devil will find no cracks or chinks for his flaming arrows to penetrate. 

how many times I yearned to gather your children together
as a hen gathers her brood under her wings

We need the proper motivation if we are to persist in spite of difficulties and opposition. And that motivation is above all the compassion that makes us share the desire of Jesus to gather all people under his wings. Our feet must be shod with "readiness for the Gospel of peace" to a degree sufficient to outweigh our own base selfish impulses.

It is probably no coincidence that Paul goes on from describing putting on the armor of God to explaining the necessity of constant prayer. Prayer is the spiritual posture in which one remains alert and through which one is equipped for the way the struggle against the dark powers manifests day to day. Even Paul needed prayer, including that of his readers, in order to ensure that he too could be bold.

Blessed be the LORD, my rock,
who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war.

 

 

Maranatha! Music - The Battle Belongs To The Lord

 

28 October 2026 - he chose Twelve

 

Today's Readings
(Audio)

 

When day came, he called his disciples to himself,
and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles

Today we celebrate the spiritual regathering of tribes Israel and the spiritual renewal of a kingdom that was previously mostly an earthly reality. Jesus summoned twelve people to be the foundations of his Church. We know from the time he spent in prayer preceding the choice that it was not trivial for him. It mattered who was chosen. It was not accidental and could not have been just anyone. This was true even though most of the twelve did not leave behind any Scriptures, and even though in the case of some we know very little about their lives. Yet the reality of their importance is not invisible since the Church of today was founded upon the work they did, and would not have been the same without them. The bishops in our own day trace their heritage through a long line of Apostolic succession that had its beginnings when these twelve laid hands on others. It is the case with Simon and Jude that we know little more than their names. And yet at the same time we do also know them better than that since they are the foundations of the reality of the Church to which we now belong, into which we are meant to grow.

Paul tells us that we are "are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets". We are connected to the promises God made to Abraham through the newly transnational and spiritual Israel that began with the Apostles. If Jesus hadn't summoned these twelve and sent them to make disciples of all nations then the nations may never have known the saving message of the Gospel. What was natural to Israel in virtue of the promises made to Abraham was extended to the world precisely through the Apostles. But what does this mean to us? That we should sit back and smugly relax? Far from it. It bespeaks the great potential that we have, potential that we must not squander.

Through him the whole structure is held together
and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord;
in him you also are being built together
into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Note the passive voice as Paul describes the construction of the spiritual temple of the Church. It is not primarily a work that is done by us. It is meant to be a natural process of growth, as with a body, since we are together the Body of Christ. Switching metaphors, we are not primarily the ones doing the building. Rather we "are being built together", and not for any purpose whatever, but for the exulted destiny of together being the (one, not many) dwelling place of God in the Spirit. Because of our Apostolic foundations we are a part of God's ongoing project of building his Kingdom in our world. The foregoing explains both why we must not stray from these foundations into error and why unity is such a fundamental aspect of the Church. Seemingly these two ideas would be good areas of focus if we are to honor Simon and Jude. We should be thankful and treasure the deposit of faith handed on to us by the Apostles. And we should desire, invite, and welcome the action of God to help us be built ever more perfectly as parts of his Church. When both of these happen the Apostles are honored, we ourselves thrive, and above all, God is glorified.

Their message goes out through all the earth.

 

 

Vineyard Music - Exodus XV