04/09/2025
Jesus Hears A Who
Few people know that Horton Hears A Who comes from the 25th Chapter of Matthew. Few people know that it is the Jesus story in a nutshell.
Jesus hears the cries of the Whos, but no one else can. They were either too small, or too insignificant. In fact, no one really tried all that hard.
And when Jesus made a stand to protect the Whos--to insist that they were people, no matter how small or how different, Jesus is rejected, imprisoned, and threatened within an inch of his life. And then the tiniest Who in Whoville joined the other voices saying, “We’re here, we’re here,” and the people finally understood that they were in fact, here, and in need of care and protection.
Jesus says to us this morning, look around you and pause. If you open your ears to listen and tune your hearts to me—you will discover a whole group of people that everyone else has overlooked. They are my people, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. And if they are my people then it means that they are your people. In fact, they might as well be me.
Now that you have heard them, now that you know who they are, you have a chance to stitch back a little tiny corner of the cosmos. You have a chance to be like God and continue to set things right—one act of mercy at a time.
So may we all.
Archived Posts
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There are several powerful and evocative artworks that depict the scene from Mark 9:14–29, where Jesus heals a boy possessed by an unclean spirit... Some of the following have internet links, the others are worth googling. Enjoy!
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The more the giving of myself costs me something, the greater the power of the gift. You know I love quotes, so after a little research, let me share a few of my favorites on this very subject:
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The death today of Pope Francis was particularly poignant, falling as it did on the day after Easter. As Protestant Christians we have a once removed interest in the leader of the Roman Catholic church. Yet the pope is the authoritative leader of 1.4 billion women and men around the world. It is worth our time to pause and consider what kind of man and what kind of legacy Pope Francis left behind.
Everything You Wanted To Know About Judas Iscariot
(Drawn from online sources)
Jesus Hears A Who
Few people know that Horton Hears A Who comes from the 25th Chapter of Matthew.
Matthew 24: One More Thing...
I sometimes stumble on old documents I’ve created but have completely forgotten about. I cannot remember why I created them or what purpose they were originally supposed to serve....
Keeping the Church Doors Unencumbered
Sunday, we considered Jesus’ disruptive actions in the Temple in light of his frustration with keeping gentiles from worshipping in their designated courtyard. We then reflected on how we still tend to throw up roadblocks to those who don’t normally attend church. I found the following, but didn’t have space for it in the sermon. It’s provocative and worth chewing on for a while.