The gospel attributed to Matthew devotes most of three chapters to describing a typical day in the life of a wisdom teacher called Jesus of Nazareth. He was known for his quotable sound bites and stories with twists and ambiguities that generated conversation and debate among his audience, that created community. This was a scene that happened again and again as Jesus walked around the countryside, telling favorite stories over and over, so that his quips and anecdotes were remembered and repeated for some fifty years until "Matthew" wrote them down for future generations to copy, interpret, and translate into languages not even in existence in Jesus' time.
Today we continue to tell Jesus' stories, to debate their meanings, to apply his wisdom to our own lives, to do our best to create God's kingdom on earth. That is the meaning and purpose of the community we call "church."

Lenten Devotions
March 11, 2021