Religion & Spirituality
A father had two sons. He went to the first son and asked to him to go and work in the vineyard. The Son answered by saying he would not go. (You can feel the tension right from the start right.) But later this son changed his mind and went.The father went to the second son and asked him the same thing. This son said sure dad, I will go work no problem (that surely makes us feel good for a moment.) However, this son never did go to work.Jesus then ask the chief priest and elders, who did the will of the father?Of course, they answered, the first. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. 32For John came to you in a righteous way and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.Don’t you just love it when Jesus talks to the people in charge like this? That is until we realize that Jesus is sharing this story 2000 years later with us. And, we have to face which son represent our life and faith?Luke reminds of the mission of Jesus in the Gospel lesson for today as he writes: John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." In other words, Jesus will come with great clarity and for those who come to him, they will find the very presence of God, the Holy Spirit and experience a fire that both refines the individual and glorifies God through the person’s life as they step into the community of God’s people. And those who don’t, the fire will intensify in yet another way. Thanks be to God that Jesus has come. And as we celebrate The Epiphany, we are truly grateful because we are reminded that Jesus didn’t just come for the Jews, but for the Jews and Gentiles alike. Epiphany is the revelation of Christ to the Gentiles. It is because of this truth that you and I are here today. It is because of this truth that we are reminded of the hope we have in Jesus.Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.Support the show (http://www.easytithe.com/stbdeland)