Life's Inanities and Ironies

In the hustle of modern life, it's easy to overlook the quieter stories in Scripture—the ones that don't scream with dramatic falls and redemptions but whisper warnings to the faithful. Today, let's dive into Luke 15:25-32 , the often-overlooked tail end of the Parable of the Prodigal Son . Here, Jesus doesn't just celebrate the return of the wayward younger brother; He exposes the heart of the older one, the "good" son who's been there all along. This isn't just a tale of one lost child—it's about two. And if we're honest, many of us who cling to the Bible as our inerrant guide might see ourselves in this dutiful, yet distant, sibling. Picture the scene: The older son is out in the fields, toiling faithfully as he always has. He's the epitome of obedience, the one who never strayed. But when he hears the sounds of jubilation—music, dancing, the fattened calf being slaughtered—he's puzzled, then furious. His brother, the squanderer, th...

  Scripture Reading: Luke 4:18 (ESV) " The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed." Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we stand on the unshakable foundation of God’s holy and authoritative word. In Luke 4:18, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ declares his divine mission—a mission rooted in the eternal truth of scripture and fulfilled before our very eyes. When Jesus read these words from the prophet Isaiah and said, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing" (Luke 4:21), he affirmed the absolute reliability of God’s promises and his identity as the promised Messiah. This is not just a story from the past; it is a living command that calls every believer to action today. As we open this sacred text, let us hear the voice of God speaking directly to us, revealing the mis...