Faith Seeking Understanding

Pentecost, empowering God's people for the mission Christ gave us.

Psalm 104:24-34, 35b Numbers 11:24-30 Acts 2:1-21 John 20:19-23 O God, who on this day taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Jesus sees a great harvest but the harvest needs laborers. 

Jesus heals two blind men and a man who is described as demon oppressed and mute. The Pharisees ascribe this power to a demonic source.

A day in the life of Jesus, a woman with an issue of blood for 12 years is miraculously healed and made whole and then a little girl is raised from death.

John the Baptist's disciples want to understand why Jesus and His disciples don't fast when it is part of Jewish tradition and practice.

Jesus calls the tax collector, Matthew, the author of the Gospel, and it threatens to upset the balance of the disciples.

Jesus heals a paralytic and provokes the religious leaders

Psalm 121 Genesis 12:1-4a Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 John 3.1-17 O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Why would the people of the land want Jesus to leave after delivering the men from demons? How does the fact He allowed the demons to go into the pigs affect our understanding of the relationship of humankind and the animal kingdom?