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Mercy not Merit

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The Humble Road Home to God Readings: Jeremiah 14:7–10, 19–22 • Psalm 84:1–6 • 2 Timothy 4:6–8, 16–18 • Luke 18:9–14 There’s a thread that runs quietly through all four readings this week — a golden thread that ties prophets, apostles, psalmists, and sinners together. It’s this: the road that leads home to God is paved with humility. From Jeremiah’s lament to the tax collector’s prayer in Jesus’ parable, every voice today points to one truth — we do not find God through merit, but through mercy. Jeremiah’s Cry for Mercy Jeremiah begins with a brokenhearted plea: “Though our iniquities testify against us, act, O Lord, for your name’s sake.” (Jer. 14:7) Israel has strayed far from God. The drought is not only in the land but in their hearts. And yet, in their need, they turn again toward Him — not with excuses, but with confession. Jeremiah’s prayer is profoundly humble. He doesn’t ask God to act because the people deserve it, but because God is faithful even whe...
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Faith That Does Not Lose Heart

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Reflections on Genesis 32:22–31 • Psalm 121 • 2 Timothy 3:14–4:5 • Luke 18:1–8 A Synod of Hope and Encouragement This past weekend, the 148th Synod of the Diocese of Quincy gathered under the theme, “Your labor is not in vain.” It was a moment of renewal — not just of business or reports, but of shared faith and encouragement. Under the wise and pastoral leadership of our bishop, we were reminded that faithful ministry is never wasted. Every act of prayer, service, and love — even when unseen or unrecognized — has its place in the work of God’s Kingdom. The bishop spoke words that many of us needed to hear: “Do not measure your ministry by numbers or applause, but by faithfulness. The Lord sees every hidden act of love and will bring forth fruit in His time.” Those words echo beautifully in the Gospel reading for this Sunday — the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18 . The Gospel: A Faith That Refuses to Give Up Jesus tells a simple story about a widow ...
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A Grateful Heart

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Gospel Reading: Luke 17:11–19 > “On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee.” There is something profoundly symbolic about the place where this story begins. Jesus is walking between Samaria and Galilee — not in one or the other, but along the borderland. It’s a place of tension and division, where Jews and Samaritans kept their distance from one another. And it’s there, in this in-between place, that ten lepers call out from the edge of society: > “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” They keep their distance, as custom required, but their voices reach across every boundary. They have nothing left but faith — faith enough to call, to hope, and to believe that mercy might find them. Understanding the Region: Then and Now When Luke says Jesus was traveling “between Samaria and Galilee,” he’s describing a real border — both geographic and social. In Jesus’ time, the land was divided into three main regions: Galilee in the north ...
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Faith in the Midst of Ruins

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Reflections on Lamentations 1:1–6, 2 Timothy 1:1–14, and Luke 17:5–10 How Lonely Sits the City “How lonely sits the city that once was full of people.” Those opening words from Lamentations pierce the heart. The city of Jerusalem, once alive with music, prayer, and laughter, lies in ruins. Traditionally, this book is linked to the prophet Jeremiah — the “weeping prophet.” Whether he penned it himself or it came from a poet of his school, the author speaks from deep personal and communal grief. He walks through the ashes of a broken city, and instead of turning away, he prays. He doesn’t hide his sorrow. His lament becomes an act of faith — a way of saying, “God, I still believe You are listening.” Lament is not the opposite of faith. Lament is faith — faith that dares to speak honestly, to cry out, to grieve, and still to hope. When Faith Feels Small Fast forward centuries later to Paul’s words to Timothy. Paul writes from prison, facing suffering and...
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Michaelmas: The Battle, the Angels, and the Victory

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Every year at the end of September, the Church celebrates Michaelmas—the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels. It’s one of those days that often slips past unnoticed, but it carries a powerful reminder: we are not alone. Our faith is not just a quiet, private matter. It is part of a much larger story—the worship of heaven, the ministry of angels, and the cosmic victory of Christ. The readings for Michaelmas are vivid. In Revelation 12 we hear: > “ War broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. ” It sounds like a scene out of a fantasy novel. Angels clashing with a dragon. The devil being cast down. But this vision is more than heavenly drama. It’s an allegory for our own lives. The Battle is Real The dragon represents all that resists God: pride, envy, despair, bitterness. The serpent’s whispers sound familiar: “You are not loved. God is not good. You’re on your own.” And then there is Michael, whose very name means “Who...
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The Unjust Steward

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  Readings: Amos 8:4–7, 1 Timothy 2:1–7, Luke 16:1–13 Life in the Marketplace The Bible readings this week might feel like they don’t belong together. Amos thunders against injustice, Paul urges prayer for all people (even rulers), and Jesus tells a puzzling story about a dishonest manager. But if we listen closely, a thread runs through them all: how do we live faithfully in a world that often rewards unfaithfulness? And here’s the image that ties them together: life as a marketplace. We are all stewards, managers, buyers, and sellers in one way or another—handling money, influence, time, and relationships. The question is: Whose economy are we really living by? Amos and the False Scales Amos condemns those who “trample the needy” and use dishonest scales. It’s not just an ancient problem. Crooked scales are alive and well: A company that inflates numbers to impress shareholders. A worker who cuts corners and hopes no one notices. A society that prizes profit over p...
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Carried Home

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            A Haunting Vision from Jeremiah The prophet Jeremiah opens our imagination today with a haunting vision: “I looked on the earth, and lo, it was waste and void; and to the heavens, and they had no light.” His words echo the language of creation in Genesis, but now in reverse. What God once filled with light and order, human unfaithfulness has unraveled into darkness and chaos. Jeremiah is not only describing Israel’s history — he is naming a spiritual reality that each of us knows. The Wasteland Within There are seasons in life when we feel like that desolate landscape: barren, restless, stripped of joy. Outwardly, everything may appear fine — even successful — but inwardly we know the ache of emptiness. Sometimes this wasteland is the fruit of sin we have clung to. Other times it comes from wounds we carry that never fully healed. Either way, it is the soul’s desert — a place where God feels absent and silence reigns. Yet Jeremia...
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