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.

The problem in the Transfiguration story is that as soon as experience transformation we try domesticate, protect, and manufacture what is holy. The challenge is consenting to follow Christ back down from the mountain.

We are forgiven to be agents of forgiveness. On a daily basis, our awareness of God's grace should help us re-start the forgiveness cycle in our own lives by forgiving others before we ask for our own forgiveness.

When Jesus comes to a level place, we find ourselves leveled out. No longer do we grieve alone, or stress alone, or worry alone. No longer do we celebrate alone or rejoice alone. When Jesus comes to a level place, he comes to level us with God’s kingdom and to level us with one another.