Jesus is risen, but what sort of risen Jesus is this? And why is it that those who love him most can see him without recognizing him?

Jesus was willing to leave his head behind and followed his heart. He sacrificed himself and his life, everything he had ever seen and heard, learned, achieved, received, and enjoyed to undergo the death of a Roman cross.

It would be easy to oppose Mary and Judas. That tension reveals that Mary and Judas, the fragrance of life can be neither bought nor sold. Our task is to take the same kind of extravagant hospitality that Mary offered to Jesus.

The father, however, knows that love is the real way home. Why is the elder son resentful? Is he correct? The elder accuses his father of showing preferential treatment.

The owner sees The barren fig tree is wasting valuable space. But the gardener loves the tree and sees it potential and wants to give it another chance.

To some extent we all compromise in some ways with our culture. There are enemies of the Cross and we need to identify. The Christian faith is not done by the numbers. It is an attitude that is seized.

In the sermon on the mount, Jesus assumes that those listening to him are praying and fasting and giving an offering, but he seems to think that some folks have their intentions and motivations in the wrong place.