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Is there anybody who is not surprised and perhaps a little disappointed in Jesus saying that he came not to bring peace but a sword. And that there will be divisions in the family, with conflict a disagreement?

Reflection for National Indigenous Day of Prayer. The Seven Grandfather Teachings: Love, Respect, Truth, Courage, Honesty, Humility,and Wisdom.

What do the three stories in the gospel today, what do they have in common? This may be reading too much into this story and maybe I’m taking too many liberties with the text but here are my thoughts beginning with Matthew the tax collector.

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

Out of our heart shall flow rivers of living water. Sounds very poetic and encouraging. And if you’re thirsty come and drink. This follows from John 6:35 whoever comes to me will never be hungry whoever believes in me will never thirst.

Six Sundays ago we listened to the account of Jesus’ resurrection and, in the intervening weeks between then and today during this Easter season, we heard stories of Jesus appearing to his disciples: how Mary Magdalene found his tomb empty that Sunday morning after the Passover, and then seeing him in the garden.

Do you ever think what is said in the Bible you disagree with or have problems with, in some way? Or am I the only one? I’m thinking today of Paul himself disagreeing with the Athenian inscription “to an unknown God”. The reality is, there is a mystery and shyness to God therefore God is in a sense unknown. This is part of the reality in which we cannot put God in a box. We are not equal with God and therefore by definition cannot fully know God.

Today’s gospel has many themes, and ways of understanding the passage. I often use it for funerals. But there’s other ways of looking at it. I was struck by what Angela N. Parker said about this gospel passage on the Working Preacher website. She begins by commenting on the phrase: “Let not your hearts be troubled.”

Why is Psalm 23 such a favorite? Maybe because there are so many images we can relate to. One of my favourites, an image of the Kingdom of God is the banquet table. You prepare a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me.