Rev. Daniel E. Pilarczyk

There are situations that overrule the Sabbath law. Such situations elicit the powerful compassion of Jesus. All the Jewish leaders understood was that Jesus wasn’t keeping the rules.

The readings during the fourth and fifth weeks of Lent are generally concerned with the identity of Jesus. This was the central question for the religious leaders who would eventually have Jesus put to death.

The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector teaches us that salvation is conditioned on receptivity. God isn’t going to give us salvation if we’re not sure that we need it.

Each of us has a role to play in God’s plans. We may not understand exactly what God has in mind for us. But God expects us to respond to his invitation just as Mary did.

Jesus couldn’t satisfy his enemies by argument because they didn’t want to be persuaded by him. How open am I to persuasion by the Lord?

As Jesus’ ministry evolves it will become clear that he offers his followers nothing less than participation in the life of God. This was more than the Jewish leaders could handle. So they set out to kill him.

You can’t be forgiven if you don’t forgive. When we stand before God asking for forgiveness, we have to be able to show how we ourselves have been forgiving.