?Trick or Treat?

~~~ Philippians 1:1-11 ~~~ Psalm 111 ~~~  Luke 14:1-6 ~~~ 

The elders were always looking for a way to trick Jesus...
...Trick or Treat....

Jesus spoke to the scholars of the law
 and Pharisees in reply, asking,
“Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath or not?”

Jesus always responded with a treat....
He treats them to a new way of thinking.
He treats them to a chance to change.
He treats them with his compassion.
He treats them to his forgiveness.
He treats them to his unconditional love.
He treats them to his words of wisdom.
He treats them with completely surrendering his body
 to their vicious cruelty.

He treats them with the last drop of his blood.
He treats them with the promise salvation.

Jesus never tries to trick us into trusting him.
Jesus never tries to trick us into believing him.
Jesus never tries to trick us loving him.
Jesus never tries to trick us into accepting his forgiveness.
Jesus never tries to trick us with his miracles.
Jesus never tries to trick us through his healing touch.
Jesus never tries to trick us by challenging the elders.
Jesus never tries to trick us by dining with sinners.
Jesus never tries to trick us by washing the feet of his apostles.
Jesus never tries to trick us by changing water into wine.
Jesus never tries to trick us by multiplying the loaves and fishes.
Jesus never tries to trick us by calming the stormy waters.
Jesus never tries to trick us into following him.
Jesus never tries to trick us into loving him
 with our whole mind, body, and soul.

Jesus is all about treating us with his majesty and his glory.
He treats us with the beauty of creation...
the flowers, the birds, the colors of the rainbow.

He treats us with friends to stand beside.
He treats us with quiet and peace.
He treats us with the gift off the Eucharist.
He treats us with eternal
unconditional love.

 ...I hold you in my heart,
you who are all partners with me in grace...

Today our task is to treat as many people as possible 

as Jesus would treat them.
Take the time to Bless their day.
Treat them with the love of Our Lord Jesus Christ
who lives and reigns forever and ever.
Amen.
~~~Peace~~~