Rev. Daniel E. Pilarczyk

We are not born in the unique circumstances of John the Baptist, yet each of us is special to God–each has a special calling from God.

The Assyrians did not leave the Jews in peace for long. The Assyrian king threatens the Judeans and their king with destruction. Judean King Hezekiah goes into the temple and prays for deliverance from the enemy.

When we judge others we are preparing a harsh judgment for ourselves. And if all men and women are our brothers and sisters, we should be unwilling to subject them to the perils of judgment.

When we say that Mary loves us we are speaking about her determination to do what is good for us, to lead us where Jesus wants us to go. 

God loves us and will be faithful to his love for us forever. We don’t deserve God’s love. We can’t earn it. We can only respond to it and accept it.

Everything you could ever rightly pray for is included in the Lord’s Prayer. If what you are praying for doesn’t somehow fit into the Lord’s Prayer, it shouldn’t be prayed for.