Similar to the Girl Scouts’ motto “Be Prepared,” Christians are reminded to be prepared for Christ’s return. In a story about ten bridesmaids, five were wise and had enough oil, while five were called foolish for not having enough. When we fix our gaze upon Jesus, even when our path is dark, Jesus invites us to find wholeness in him.<\/p>\n","videoimg":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SpOL5051-Thumbnail-585x330-1.jpg","content":"","transcript":"
Speaking of Life 5051<\/strong>\u2502<\/strong>You Don\u2019t Have to Be a Girl Scout I was involved in Girl Scouts when I was younger. Maybe you were a Girl Scout or Boy Scout, too. The motto for Scouts is \u201cBe Prepared.\u201d This reminds me of the way Christians have been warned to be prepared for Christ\u2019s return. One example that\u2019s often cited is the parable of the Ten Bridesmaids where Jesus is telling his disciples what the kingdom of heaven is like.<\/p>\n The story goes like this:<\/p>\n Ten young women took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, \u2018Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.\u2019 Then all those young women got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, \u2018Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.\u2019 But the wise replied, \u2018No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.\u2019 And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. Later the other young women came also, saying, \u2018Lord, lord, open to us.\u2019 But he replied, \u2018Truly I tell you, I do not know you.\u2019 Keep awake, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. Passages like this one have often been plucked from scripture without thinking about them in the context of other direct commandments Jesus said or the way he behaved in the world. This story sounds out of character for Jesus who told us to love and serve others and put them first.<\/p>\n We don\u2019t base theological doctrine on a parable because a parable wasn\u2019t meant to be used that way. It\u2019s a story that offers us the opportunity to consider truth from the point of view of different characters. In this parable, we see that the five bridesmaids who had plenty of oil believed that being self-reliant was more important than helping others. The five bridesmaids who didn\u2019t prepare believed they deserved help from the ones who prepared. I mean, they had fallen asleep, waiting. But what if the parable isn\u2019t about what the bridesmaids should have done or shouldn\u2019t have done? What if it isn\u2019t about the bridesmaids at all? Let\u2019s consider a different perspective.<\/p>\n We assume that the five bridesmaids who ran out of oil are called foolish because they ran out of oil. But what if the reason they\u2019re called foolish is because they listened to the other bridesmaids who told them to go buy more and then ended up missing the wedding? Maybe they were foolish because they forgot who the Bridegroom was and what he was capable of. This bridegroom was The Light of the World, and he didn\u2019t need their lamps. They were foolish because they allowed their shame over running out of oil to drive them to try to fix it, and thus they missed the wedding banquet.<\/p>\n When the Bridegroom says, \u201cI don\u2019t know you,\u201d he\u2019s also saying that they didn\u2019t really know him. And this is part of the lesson of this parable. When we focus on Jesus, we know he is the one who makes us enough. He is the light we need when our own lamps run low. He is sufficient.<\/p>\n May we be blessed with the understanding that we are made whole and enough in Christ.<\/p>\n I\u2019m Michelle Fleming, Speaking of Life.<\/p>\n","downloadYouTube":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=xuNDW4Kfo-Q","catslug":"speaking-of-life","catname":"Speaking of Life","rssurl":"http:\/\/feeds.feedburner.com\/SpeakingOfLifeMp3","appleurl":"","playurl":"https:\/\/playmusic.app.goo.gl\/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&apn=com.google.android.music&link=https:\/\/play.google.com\/music\/m\/Invbqg3jtwxr3zeouhpqgcgred4?t%3DSpeaking_Of_Life_-_Audio_Podcast%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16","googleurl":"https:\/\/www.google.com\/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLmZlZWRidXJuZXIuY29tL1NwZWFraW5nT2ZMaWZlTXAz","spotify":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0UEvj3BfvF58BdlJCg5Zxz","sticher":null,"podaddict":null,"airdate":"2026-11-09"},{"success":"1","id":11311,"url":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/media\/videos\/speaking-of-life-5050-expect-the-unexpected\/","title":"Speaking of Life 5050 | Expect the Unexpected","fileCat":"SpOL","fileID":"SpOL5050-GW-ExpectTheUnexpected","youtubeID":"hz3biWd2OM4","isTooOld":false,"isVideo":true,"isAudio":true,"widescreen":false,"mp3Link":true,"mp4Link":true,"mp4LoRes":true,"mp4EngSub":null,"wmvVodLink":false,"wmvHRLink":false,"isoLink":false,"intro":"","teaser":" Life is full of surprises, some good and some bad, but the psalmist shows us that God’s surprises are always filled with blessings. As Advent approaches, may we find hope in the unexpected ways God moves in our lives, just like how no one expected Jesus to come into our world the way he did.<\/p>\n","videoimg":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SpOL5050-Thumbnail-585x330-1.jpg","content":"","transcript":" Speaking of Life 5050 | Expect the Unexpected We typically don\u2019t like the unexpected. We don\u2019t like it when our car unexpectedly refuses to turn over, or our computer unexpectedly crashes. Worse, an unexpected loss of employment creates great turmoil and loss of personal confidence. And we certainly don\u2019t like unexpected health difficulties. But these are the realities we face, and we quickly learn to expect the unexpected along with all the frustration and heartache it can bring.<\/p>\n However, not all things unexpected are bad. An unexpected gift or raise can turn a sour day around in a hurry. I\u2019m sure we can all remember with joy some unexpected blessing that came our way, large or small.<\/p>\n So, here\u2019s a question. What should we expect from the Lord? Is he full of unexpected surprises?<\/p>\n The biblical witness seems to present\u2026 well, an unexpected answer to that question. We are presented with a God who is unchanging, yet, at the same time, full of unexpected surprises.<\/p>\n Listen to Psalm 107 the paradox of God\u2019s unchanging nature described by images of unexpected natural events.<\/p>\n \u201cLet them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n He turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground, a fruitful land into a salty waste, because of the evil of its inhabitants. He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water. And there he lets the hungry dwell, and they establish a city to live in; they sow fields and plant vineyards and get a fruitful yield.\u201d <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Psalm 107:31-37 (ESV)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n It\u2019s interesting how the psalmist refers to the Lord\u2019s steadfast love but then equates that steadfastness with images of great reversals. It appears that the Lord is steadfast in bringing the unexpected. But did you notice the direction of the unexpected? It was always for blessing. We can expect the rivers of evil to run dry, while also expecting the deserts of his children to become fruitful.<\/p>\n With God, there is always good news ahead. Rivers run dry, but he refills them. Deserts become springs of water. Sinners become believers and followers of Christ. It\u2019s easy to look around and get discouraged at the state of the world, so Jesus tells us to lift our eyes and gaze upon him. He is the restorer of all things. He is the one who works his blessings in unexpected ways.<\/p>\n As we wind down the season of Ordinary Time and enter the season of Advent, let\u2019s continually look to him and learn to expect the unexpected. Ordinary Time ends with Christ the King Sunday \u2013 and no one expected the King of kings to enter our world as he did. God loves to surprise with the unexpected \u2013 it\u2019s part of the mystery of who he is. <\/p>\n I\u2019m Greg Williams, Speaking of Life.<\/p>\n","downloadYouTube":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=hz3biWd2OM4","catslug":"speaking-of-life","catname":"Speaking of Life","rssurl":"http:\/\/feeds.feedburner.com\/SpeakingOfLifeMp3","appleurl":"","playurl":"https:\/\/playmusic.app.goo.gl\/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&apn=com.google.android.music&link=https:\/\/play.google.com\/music\/m\/Invbqg3jtwxr3zeouhpqgcgred4?t%3DSpeaking_Of_Life_-_Audio_Podcast%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16","googleurl":"https:\/\/www.google.com\/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLmZlZWRidXJuZXIuY29tL1NwZWFraW5nT2ZMaWZlTXAz","spotify":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0UEvj3BfvF58BdlJCg5Zxz","sticher":null,"podaddict":null,"airdate":"2026-11-02"},{"success":"1","id":12650,"url":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/media\/videos\/matthew-living-ready-for-the-kingdom\/","title":"Matthew: Living Ready for the Kingdom","fileCat":"RSB","fileID":"RSB056-YearA-Proper25","youtubeID":"uzZ6im3Xhp4","isTooOld":false,"isVideo":true,"isAudio":true,"widescreen":false,"mp3Link":true,"mp4Link":true,"mp4LoRes":true,"mp4EngSub":false,"wmvVodLink":false,"wmvHRLink":false,"isoLink":false,"intro":"","teaser":"","videoimg":"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/uzZ6im3Xhp4\/hqdefault.jpg","content":"","transcript":" Living Ready for the Kingdom<\/strong><\/p>\n Anyone who has waited for someone they love knows the quiet tension of anticipation. Waiting can be difficult, but it can also be meaningful. When we know someone important is coming, the waiting itself begins to shape how we live.<\/p>\n Jesus spoke often about this kind of readiness.<\/p>\n At the center of Jesus\u2019 teaching is a simple yet profound command: to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. In these words, Jesus reveals the very heart of God\u2019s kingdom.<\/p>\n Faithfulness is not measured by outward appearance or religious performance. It is seen in lives shaped by love.<\/p>\n And the one who calls us to this way of life is more than a teacher. Jesus reveals himself as the promised Son of David and the true Lord, the King whose kingdom is breaking into the world.<\/p>\n The kingdom begins with love for God and love for neighbor.<\/strong><\/p>\n As his ministry drew toward its final days, Jesus spoke with clarity and urgency about the life of the kingdom. He challenged religious leaders whose outward appearances hid hearts that had grown distant from the compassion and justice of God.<\/p>\n True faith, he reminded his listeners, is not measured by appearances or titles. It is seen in humility, sincerity, and a life shaped by love.<\/p>\n The kingdom calls us to lives of integrity and compassion.<\/strong><\/p>\n Jesus then turned his attention to the future. Through a series of stories, he described a time when the Son of Man would come again in glory. His words were not meant to create fear or speculation, but to awaken faithful living.<\/p>\n In one story, bridesmaids wait with lamps burning, prepared for the arrival of the bridegroom. These stories remind us that the kingdom is not something we passively wait for. It is something we actively participate in as we live with faithfulness, wisdom, and trust.<\/p>\n Faithfulness is formed in the ordinary moments of life.<\/strong><\/p>\n Finally, Jesus paints a powerful picture of the coming kingdom where the true measure of faithfulness is revealed in acts of compassion.<\/p>\n Those who welcomed the stranger, fed the hungry, and cared for the vulnerable discover that in serving others, they were serving Christ himself.<\/p>\n The kingdom of God is not only about what we believe. The kingdom becomes visible through love in action.<\/strong><\/p>\n These teachings invite us to live with a sense of holy attentiveness. The future kingdom of God is certain, and its reality is already shaping the present.<\/p>\n So we live with hope. The King is coming, and his kingdom is already at work among us.<\/strong><\/p>\n 37 <\/sup><\/strong>Jesus replied: \u201c\u2018Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.\u2019 38 <\/sup><\/strong>This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 <\/sup><\/strong>And the second is like it:<\/p>\n \u2018Love your neighbor as yourself.\u2019 40 <\/sup><\/strong>All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.\u201d<\/p>\n Matthew 22:37-40<\/p>\n Jesus reminds us that life in the kingdom is rooted in love and expressed through faithful living. In the passage that follows, we hear the words that reveal the heart of God\u2019s kingdom and the way Jesus calls his followers to live.<\/p>\n As we continue exploring the Gospel of Matthew, may we grow into lives shaped by the love of Christ. And as we await the fullness of his kingdom, may our lives reflect the humility, faithfulness, and compassion of the King we follow.<\/p>\n","downloadYouTube":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=uzZ6im3Xhp4","catslug":"rcl-sermon-bumpers","catname":"RCL Sermon Bumpers","rssurl":"","appleurl":"","playurl":"","googleurl":"","spotify":"","sticher":"","podaddict":"","airdate":"2026-10-26"},{"success":"1","id":11269,"url":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/media\/videos\/speaking-of-life-5048-no-exception-to-the-rule\/","title":"Speaking of Life 5048 | No Exception to the Rule","fileCat":"SpOL","fileID":"SpOL5048-GW-NoExceptionToTheRule","youtubeID":"K7FlbuJN170","isTooOld":false,"isVideo":true,"isAudio":true,"widescreen":false,"mp3Link":true,"mp4Link":true,"mp4LoRes":true,"mp4EngSub":null,"wmvVodLink":false,"wmvHRLink":false,"isoLink":false,"intro":"","teaser":" The Main Ingredient was a band with a popular song called “Everybody Plays the Fool.” It’s a song about how everyone can feel foolish sometimes. But Jesus Christ is different. He was wise when people tried to trick him. Jesus shows us that we can choose to follow tricky things in the world or follow God. This story reminds us that even when we feel fooled, we can trust in Jesus to make things better and true.<\/p>\n","videoimg":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/SpOL5048-Thumbnail-585x330-1.jpg","content":"","transcript":" Speaking of Life 5048 | No Exception to the Rule The Main Ingredient <\/em>was an American soul and R&B band best known for their hit song, \u201cEverybody Plays the Fool.\u201d Although the song is about unrequited love, its refrain alone speaks to us all.<\/p>\n \u201cEverybody plays the fool sometime That\u2019s hard to argue with. I\u2019m sure we can all remember some scenario of being played a fool. It comes with a feeling of shame and embarrassment along with the real cost we had to pay for falling for some deceitful scheme. An experienced con artist or unscrupulous salesperson has claimed many a victim with their devious tactics. Sooner or later, the song will prove to be true, \u201cEverybody plays the fool sometime.\u201d<\/p>\n However, for the Christian, we know the song is not completely true. There does stand among us one \u201cexception to the rule.\u201d And that exception is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus knew we would be no match for the deceit and fraud of the devil. So, he stands in for us as the one who does not play the fool.<\/p>\n One Gospel story illustrates this with Jesus being put in a no-win spot. It begins with the Pharisees and the Herodians conspiring together; these are two groups who are typically opposed to one another. They device a trick question about paying the Roman tax that will put Jesus walking a tightrope between the Roman authorities and the Jewish people.<\/p>\n After an attempt to butter Jesus up with flattery, they lay out their trick question. Let\u2019s listen in to see how Jesus answers:<\/p>\n \u201cTell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?\u201d But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, \u201cWhy put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax.\u201d And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, \u201cWhose likeness and inscription is this?\u201d They said, \u201cCaesar’s.\u201d Then he said to them, \u201cTherefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.\u201d When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.\u201d <\/strong> Notice first that Jesus was not tricked. He was aware of their intent to trap him. We often only become aware by hindsight. He then calls them out for who they are, \u201chypocrites.\u201d Jesus is not afraid to call out those who yield power and influence.<\/p>\n Jesus has answered in a way that avoids being accused of subversion to the Roman empire, while at the same time affirming the Jewish belief of the allegiance that only belongs to the One in whose image they are made.<\/p>\n And he does all this while presenting us with the choice we must all make. Do we give ourselves over to the manipulating, and deceitful ways of this world, or do we give ourselves to Jesus, God\u2019s own Son who is our High Priest?<\/p>\n In the end, we can trust that our High Priest will walk back all the former times that we played the fool, redeeming us and leaving us in amazement as well. And on this note the song rings true: There\u2019s no exception to the rule.<\/p>\n I\u2019m Greg Williams, Speaking of Life.<\/p>\n","downloadYouTube":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=K7FlbuJN170","catslug":"speaking-of-life","catname":"Speaking of Life","rssurl":"http:\/\/feeds.feedburner.com\/SpeakingOfLifeMp3","appleurl":"","playurl":"https:\/\/playmusic.app.goo.gl\/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&apn=com.google.android.music&link=https:\/\/play.google.com\/music\/m\/Invbqg3jtwxr3zeouhpqgcgred4?t%3DSpeaking_Of_Life_-_Audio_Podcast%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16","googleurl":"https:\/\/www.google.com\/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLmZlZWRidXJuZXIuY29tL1NwZWFraW5nT2ZMaWZlTXAz","spotify":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0UEvj3BfvF58BdlJCg5Zxz","sticher":null,"podaddict":null,"airdate":"2026-10-19"},{"success":"1","id":11268,"url":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/media\/videos\/speaking-of-life-5047-acknowledging-gods-faithfulness\/","title":"Speaking of Life 5047 | Acknowledging God\u2019s Faithfulness","fileCat":"SpOL","fileID":"SpOL5047-CG-AcknowledgingGodsFaithfulness","youtubeID":"szInJ4OHMog","isTooOld":false,"isVideo":true,"isAudio":true,"widescreen":false,"mp3Link":true,"mp4Link":true,"mp4LoRes":true,"mp4EngSub":null,"wmvVodLink":false,"wmvHRLink":false,"isoLink":false,"intro":"","teaser":" Cara adopted two golden retriever puppies who warmly greet her when she’s home but become anxious when she’s away. This is compared to the Israelites’ impatience with God, highlighting the importance of trusting in God’s faithfulness during uncertain times.<\/p>\n","videoimg":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/SpOL5047-Thumbnail-585x330-1.jpg","content":"","transcript":" Speaking of Life <\/strong>5047 | <\/strong>Acknowledging God\u2019s Faithfulness Last year I adopted two golden retriever puppies, Bumi and Zuko. One of the most endearing things they do is greet me with all their excitement when I return home. They\u2019ll run up to me wagging their tails, then run around looking for toys to bring me. Sometimes I\u2019ll even let them be a little naughty and jump on me in their excitement.<\/p>\n On the flip side of their warm welcomes home, they struggled for many months whenever I left. Sometimes they would bark for up to ten minutes after I left the house before they settled down. Bumi would even start whining and barking if I walked into the other room. They became anxious when they couldn\u2019t see me. It took them some time for them to learn that I would always return \u2013 I will never abandon them.<\/p>\n There is a story in the book of Exodus where Moses goes up to Mt. Horeb to meet with God. It seems to the Israelites that Moses is taking his sweet time and so they start to grow restless. Perhaps, something has happened to him, they wonder.<\/p>\n In the 106th<\/sup> Psalm, the psalmist writes a song about this, highlighting the failure of the Israelites to trust God, despite all that he had previously done for them.<\/p>\n At Horeb they made a calf and worshipped an idol cast from metal. They exchanged their glorious God for an image of a bull, which eats grass. They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt, miracles in the land of Ham and awesome deeds by the Red Sea. Psalms 106:19-22<\/strong><\/p>\n Rather than waiting for Moses to return, the Israelites decided to take matters into their own hands. They created a false image of God and his character rather than trusting in God\u2019s unchanging continual care for them.<\/p>\n In times of uncertainty, we can become anxious. We may be tempted to trust in things that we find around us to give us comfort. We look to created things rather than to our Creator for hope and meaning but our true comfort comes from Christ and his continual commitment to us.<\/p>\n Have you possibly fashioned idols in your life while growing impatient in seeing God work in and through you?<\/p>\n Remember when God has shown himself faithful to you. Where you have seen his provision, his grace, and his deliverance from difficult circumstances.<\/p>\n Return to these altars as memorials that the Father sees you, he sees Christ in you, and you in Christ. You never have to fear his return as he has promised to never leave you in the first place, but promises to live with you, and in you, by his Spirit.<\/p>\n Go ahead, feel elated, and jump up on the Master of your soul. Let him know how glad you are to know that you can trust in his continual faithfulness.<\/p>\n I\u2019m Cara Garrity, Speaking of Life.<\/p>\n","downloadYouTube":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=szInJ4OHMog","catslug":"speaking-of-life","catname":"Speaking of Life","rssurl":"http:\/\/feeds.feedburner.com\/SpeakingOfLifeMp3","appleurl":"","playurl":"https:\/\/playmusic.app.goo.gl\/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&apn=com.google.android.music&link=https:\/\/play.google.com\/music\/m\/Invbqg3jtwxr3zeouhpqgcgred4?t%3DSpeaking_Of_Life_-_Audio_Podcast%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16","googleurl":"https:\/\/www.google.com\/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLmZlZWRidXJuZXIuY29tL1NwZWFraW5nT2ZMaWZlTXAz","spotify":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0UEvj3BfvF58BdlJCg5Zxz","sticher":null,"podaddict":null,"airdate":"2026-10-12"},{"success":"1","id":11267,"url":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/media\/videos\/speaking-of-life-5046-trash-and-treasure\/","title":"Speaking of Life 5046 | Trash and Treasure","fileCat":"SpOL","fileID":"SpOL5046-GW-TrashAndTreasure","youtubeID":"eVcLJ9UAFQY","isTooOld":false,"isVideo":true,"isAudio":true,"widescreen":false,"mp3Link":true,"mp4Link":true,"mp4LoRes":true,"mp4EngSub":null,"wmvVodLink":false,"wmvHRLink":false,"isoLink":false,"intro":"","teaser":" In Matthew 21, Jesus shares a story about a landowner and some tenants, representing God’s relationship with Israel. The tenants harmed those sent by the owner. Jesus cautions that the kingdom of God belongs to believers, highlighting that God treasures them, inviting them to help spread love and Jesus’ message.<\/p>\n","videoimg":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/SpOL5046-Thumbnail-585x330-1.jpg","content":"","transcript":" Speaking of Life<\/strong> 5046 | Trash and Treasure You\u2019ve heard the phrase, one man\u2019s trash is another man\u2019s treasure. There are numerous stories of people purchasing something at a rummage sale that proved to be quite valuable. I collect coins, and I\u2019ve been fortunate to find a few coins that someone else has discarded because they didn\u2019t see the value in the coin.<\/p>\n Jesus tells a parable to a group of chief priests and Jewish elders about people destroying something valuable because they didn\u2019t know its worth. In this parable, the thing of value is a person. The parable is in Matthew 21 , and Jesus talks about a landowner who built a vineyard and then leased the vineyard to some tenants. When harvest time came, he decided to send some servants to collect his portion of the harvest. The tenants killed the servants. He sent more servants, and they killed them as well. Finally, he decided to send his son, saying, \u201cThey will respect my son.\u201d But the tenants killed the son as well. Jesus then asked these religious leaders the following:<\/p>\n Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?\u201d They said to him, \u201cHe will put those wretches to a miserable death and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Jesus said to them, \u201cHave you never read in the scriptures: \u2018The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord\u2019s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes\u2019? \u201cTherefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces its fruits. <\/p>\n Matthew 21:40-43 (NRSVUA)<\/strong><\/p>\n Jesus\u2019 parable, of course, is a summary of God\u2019s relationship with Israel and Judah. He sent a number of prophets to his beloved people to encourage them to return to him, and these prophets were often tortured and killed. The religious leaders were quite familiar with their history. Jesus was letting them know that he knew his future, that he would be killed by the very people God chose so many generations before. And shortly after delivering this parable, the Jewish leaders did just what the parable predicted, they killed the one sent to deliver them.<\/p>\n And the rest of Jesus\u2019 words also came to pass. Killing Jesus did not bring them the victory they might have anticipated, instead, it started a kingdom work that is still going and still growing.<\/p>\n Beginning with Abraham, God gave the opportunity to a few to participate with him in showing others who he truly is \u2013 a Father who loves his children. Later he chose the nation of Israel and told them they were chosen to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. We know the history. They continued to rebel and disobey God to the point that they rejected the very Son of God and crucified him. <\/p>\n In this parable, Jesus is telling them they are no longer the ones God entrusts to share his kingdom\u2019s message of mercy and grace. Now the message has been entrusted to those who believe \u2013 Jew and Gentile, slave and free, male and female \u2013 all who believe and follow Jesus. <\/p>\n Others may look down on us because of whom we follow; they don\u2019t see the value of being a believer. They might see what they consider trash. But God sees treasure, and he has invited you and me to participate in his kingdom work \u2013 sharing the love and life of Jesus with others. May we live as the treasured of God and bear the kind of fruit that brings glory to him.<\/p>\n I\u2019m Greg Williams, Speaking of Life.<\/p>\n","downloadYouTube":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=eVcLJ9UAFQY","catslug":"speaking-of-life","catname":"Speaking of Life","rssurl":"http:\/\/feeds.feedburner.com\/SpeakingOfLifeMp3","appleurl":"","playurl":"https:\/\/playmusic.app.goo.gl\/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&apn=com.google.android.music&link=https:\/\/play.google.com\/music\/m\/Invbqg3jtwxr3zeouhpqgcgred4?t%3DSpeaking_Of_Life_-_Audio_Podcast%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16","googleurl":"https:\/\/www.google.com\/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLmZlZWRidXJuZXIuY29tL1NwZWFraW5nT2ZMaWZlTXAz","spotify":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0UEvj3BfvF58BdlJCg5Zxz","sticher":null,"podaddict":null,"airdate":"2026-10-05"},{"success":"1","id":11266,"url":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/media\/videos\/speaking-of-life-5045-%e2%94%82-undercover-jesus\/","title":"Speaking of Life 5045 \u2502 Undercover Jesus","fileCat":"SpOL","fileID":"SpOL5045-MF-UndercoverJesus","youtubeID":"XUOM0qQXIXc","isTooOld":false,"isVideo":true,"isAudio":true,"widescreen":false,"mp3Link":true,"mp4Link":true,"mp4LoRes":true,"mp4EngSub":null,"wmvVodLink":false,"wmvHRLink":false,"isoLink":false,"intro":"","teaser":" Like an undercover boss on a TV show, Jesus surprised everyone by coming in a way people didn’t expect. Some leaders even tried to figure out his secret. But Jesus showed that God’s ways are different from what we think, and sometimes we need to let go of our ideas to find happiness and peace in God’s plan.<\/p>\n","videoimg":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/SpOL5045-Thumbnail-585x330-1.jpg","content":"","transcript":" Speaking of Life 5045<\/strong>\u2502<\/strong> Undercover Jesus There\u2019s a TV show called Undercover Boss. <\/em> Maybe you\u2019ve watched it before. The show revolves around a high-ranking executive or business owner who goes undercover as an entry-level employee in their own company, taking an alias, changing their appearance, and making up a back story. These undercover bosses work in different locations with their unsuspecting employees, and they learn a lot about their own business and their employees.<\/p>\n If we think about Jesus\u2019 incarnation, we might compare it to God showing up in an unexpected way. No one would suspect a craftsman from Nazareth with his questionable parentage and birth story. In Matthew 21, an altercation between the chief priests, elders, and Jesus shows us that they almost blew his cover:<\/p>\n When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching and said, \u201cBy what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?\u201d <\/sup>Jesus said to them, \u201cI will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. <\/sup>Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?\u201d And they argued with one another, \u201cIf we say, \u2018From heaven,\u2019 he will say to us, \u2018Why, then, did you not believe him?\u2019 <\/sup>But if we say, \u2018Of human origin,\u2019 we are afraid of the crowd, for all regard John as a prophet.\u201d <\/sup>So they answered Jesus, \u201cWe do not know.\u201d And he said to them, \u201cNeither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.\u201d It might be more accurate to say that they did figure out he was the Son of God undercover, but if they acknowledged that, they might lose their power and authority over the people. Undercover Jesus was not the Messiah they had expected. He didn\u2019t look rich or powerful, and he certainly didn\u2019t exert his authority over the common person as they did. Jesus went out of his way to disrupt their authority. So when Jesus asked them where John got his authority to baptize, they lied and said they didn\u2019t know.<\/p>\n Jesus learned a lot about his people that day, just like undercover bosses learn what it is like to walk a day in their employees\u2019 shoes \u2013 their joys and their struggles. The chief priests and elders let their expectations blind them to the Son of God standing right in front of them. Jesus taught that those who repented and turned back toward their Father would be first in the Kingdom of God, while those who stubbornly resisted divine love wouldn\u2019t understand the peace and joy that was theirs all along.<\/p>\n Think about the expectations we have for the way God shows up in the world. Do we resist the peace God wants us to have because we think God should show up in our lives in a certain way? Holding fast to expectations doesn\u2019t allow for the mystery of God to unfold in our lives in the way God deems best. We need to let God do his work in our lives because we can trust that whatever he is doing is for our good. God may be working undercover in ways that are far beyond anything we could imagine.<\/p>\n May we let go of expectations that keep us captive to unhelpful thoughts about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Instead, may we be open to the mystery, love, joy, and peace of God. <\/p>\n I\u2019m Michelle Fleming, Speaking of Life.<\/p>\n","downloadYouTube":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=XUOM0qQXIXc","catslug":"speaking-of-life","catname":"Speaking of Life","rssurl":"http:\/\/feeds.feedburner.com\/SpeakingOfLifeMp3","appleurl":"","playurl":"https:\/\/playmusic.app.goo.gl\/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&apn=com.google.android.music&link=https:\/\/play.google.com\/music\/m\/Invbqg3jtwxr3zeouhpqgcgred4?t%3DSpeaking_Of_Life_-_Audio_Podcast%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16","googleurl":"https:\/\/www.google.com\/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLmZlZWRidXJuZXIuY29tL1NwZWFraW5nT2ZMaWZlTXAz","spotify":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0UEvj3BfvF58BdlJCg5Zxz","sticher":null,"podaddict":null,"airdate":"2026-09-28"},{"success":"1","id":11243,"url":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/media\/videos\/speaking-of-life-5044-gods-generosity\/","title":"Speaking of Life 5044 | God\u2019s Generosity","fileCat":"SpOL","fileID":"SpOL5044-GW-GodsGenerosity","youtubeID":"riJf-En9oT8","isTooOld":false,"isVideo":true,"isAudio":true,"widescreen":false,"mp3Link":true,"mp4Link":true,"mp4LoRes":true,"mp4EngSub":null,"wmvVodLink":false,"wmvHRLink":false,"isoLink":false,"intro":"","teaser":" In the parable of the landowner and the laborers, Jesus reveals the generous and all-encompassing nature of God. The story challenges the concept of human fairness and highlights God’s boundless love for all his servants, emphasizing that his grace and love are offered equally to all, regardless of the amount of work done.<\/p>\n","videoimg":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/SpOL5044-Thumbnail-585x330-1.jpg","content":"","transcript":" Speaking of Life 5044 | God\u2019s Generosity I grew up in apple country. My grandparents and my parents owned apple orchards, and each year we would hire laborers during harvest time to pick and pack apples. We paid a fair wage, and we rarely had trouble finding laborers. Sometimes a worker had to leave early or start late for some unforeseen reason, and I sometimes saw my dad or my grandfather pay them a full day\u2019s wage anyway. Still, I\u2019m not sure I ever saw them do the practice we read about in the book of Matthew.<\/p>\n In chapter 20, Jesus tells an interesting parable to illuminate the kingdom of God. He spoke about a landowner who sought to hire workers to labor in his vineyard. Similar to when I was young, day laborers at that time would gather at a central location and wait to be hired. The landowner hired his first batch of apple-pickers early in the morning, around 6:00, and agreed to pay them a denarius, which was the typical daily wage for work like this. He went out and hired workers at 9:00, 12:00, 3:00, and 5:00. When evening came, the landowner decided to pay all of the workers, starting with the last hired. Seeing that the landowner paid those hired at 5:00 a denarius, those hired first expected to be paid more. When they also received a denarius, they began to complain. Those hired at 5:00 only worked one hour yet were paid the same wage as those who worked for 12 hours in the hot sun. In Matthew 20, we read the interesting response of the landowner in Jesus\u2019 story: <\/p>\n But he answered one of them, \u201cI am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?\u201d A lot is going on in this story. The one central lesson is that God, the landowner is good, gracious, and generous to all of his servants. This is the triune God\u2019s nature, all the time.<\/p>\n The concept of human fairness is brought into question. How can a laborer who worked just one hour get the same pay as a laborer who worked 12 hours? The story is not really about labor laws and fair wages. It is about a personal God who offers grace and salvation to all.<\/p>\n Let me ask a strange question \u2013 \u201cAre grace and salvation better for me than they are for you?\u201d There are no degrees of separation, and Jesus\u2019 teachings always deflate the notion of a competition or contest.<\/p>\n The landowner has space and rewards for all. As Jesus assured his followers, \u201cIn my house are many mansions.\u201d<\/p>\n I\u2019m Greg Williams, Speaking of Life.<\/p>\n","downloadYouTube":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=riJf-En9oT8","catslug":"speaking-of-life","catname":"Speaking of Life","rssurl":"http:\/\/feeds.feedburner.com\/SpeakingOfLifeMp3","appleurl":"","playurl":"https:\/\/playmusic.app.goo.gl\/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&apn=com.google.android.music&link=https:\/\/play.google.com\/music\/m\/Invbqg3jtwxr3zeouhpqgcgred4?t%3DSpeaking_Of_Life_-_Audio_Podcast%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16","googleurl":"https:\/\/www.google.com\/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLmZlZWRidXJuZXIuY29tL1NwZWFraW5nT2ZMaWZlTXAz","spotify":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0UEvj3BfvF58BdlJCg5Zxz","sticher":null,"podaddict":null,"airdate":"2026-09-21"},{"success":"1","id":11242,"url":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/media\/videos\/speaking-of-life-5043%e2%94%82too-good-to-be-true\/","title":"Speaking of Life 5043\u2502Too Good to Be True","fileCat":"SpOL","fileID":"SpOL5043-JB-TooGoodToBeTrue","youtubeID":"GLIlNJHPI6M","isTooOld":false,"isVideo":true,"isAudio":true,"widescreen":false,"mp3Link":true,"mp4Link":true,"mp4LoRes":true,"mp4EngSub":null,"wmvVodLink":false,"wmvHRLink":false,"isoLink":false,"intro":"","teaser":" This story of the merciful king and the unforgiving slave, shared by Jesus, illustrates the nature of God’s forgiveness. It shows that despite our human doubts and fears, we can trust in the reality of God’s grace and love, which Jesus came to reveal to humanity. This revelation empowers us to extend forgiveness and love to others, just as we have received it from God, without doubting that such goodness is too good to be true.<\/p>\n","videoimg":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/SpOL5043-Thumbnail-585x330-1.jpg","content":"","transcript":" Speaking of Life 5043<\/strong>\u2502<\/strong>Too Good to Be True You\u2019ve probably experienced a situation that just didn\u2019t make sense to you. It was too good to be true, and you weren\u2019t sure if you should believe it. Well, you\u2019re in good company because Jesus shared a parable in Matthew 18 about God\u2019s way of moving in the world that definitely sounds too good to be true.<\/p>\n The story begins with a slave in debt to a king for a lot of money, and he couldn\u2019t pay it back. When the slave acknowledged his inability to repay and asked for more time, the king had a surprising response. Let\u2019s read it together:<\/p>\n The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him, and, as he could not pay, the lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, \u2018Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.\u2019 And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him by the throat he said, \u2018Pay what you owe.\u2019 Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, \u2018Have patience with me, and I will pay you.\u2019 But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. If we look at the context of this parable, we see it\u2019s a response to Peter\u2019s question about how many times he was required to forgive someone. Though we don\u2019t know why the first slave behaved as he did, we might speculate that his reaction was selfish human nature, accepting the forgiveness of his own debt, but being unwilling to do that for others.<\/p>\n We also could speculate that the first slave was afraid and didn\u2019t trust the king. The slave couldn\u2019t believe the forgiveness was true, and so he reacted out of fear. He terrorized those who owed him money because he didn\u2019t believe the king would treat him so graciously. <\/p>\n From this story, we might deduce that this slave didn\u2019t know the king\u2019s character, and as a result, he didn\u2019t trust him. He wasn\u2019t sure the king would keep his word about the forgiven debt. As a result, he transmitted his fear about his financial matters to those who owed him money, and he behaved as if his debt was not taken care of.<\/p>\n This parable from Jesus gives us a chance to consider how we feel about forgiveness. Do we believe we\u2019re forgiven for our sins and brought into a loving relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? If we do, then that belief will inform our relationships with others.<\/p>\n When we grasp that we\u2019re known and loved despite our shortcomings, we\u2019re more willing to love and accept others despite their shortcomings. Instead of acting selfishly or transmitting fear and behaving as if we have to earn the right to be forgiven, loved, and included, we can relax into the loving arms of God.<\/p>\n It might seem too good to be true, but if we believe Jesus came to show us God\u2019s heart for humanity, we know we can trust that we\u2019re forgiven and in the right relationship with God. And when something is that good, we have to pass it on to others. Rather than transmitting fear, we lovingly extend grace and forgiveness to others, trusting that there are some things that aren\u2019t too good to be true. This helps them understand that they are also under the Father\u2019s forgiveness.<\/p>\n May we believe in God\u2019s goodness and love, trusting that it\u2019s not too good to be true, knowing we\u2019re forgiven, and extending the same grace to others.<\/p>\n I\u2019m Jeff Broadnax, Speaking of Life.<\/p>\n","downloadYouTube":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=GLIlNJHPI6M","catslug":"speaking-of-life","catname":"Speaking of Life","rssurl":"http:\/\/feeds.feedburner.com\/SpeakingOfLifeMp3","appleurl":"","playurl":"https:\/\/playmusic.app.goo.gl\/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&apn=com.google.android.music&link=https:\/\/play.google.com\/music\/m\/Invbqg3jtwxr3zeouhpqgcgred4?t%3DSpeaking_Of_Life_-_Audio_Podcast%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16","googleurl":"https:\/\/www.google.com\/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLmZlZWRidXJuZXIuY29tL1NwZWFraW5nT2ZMaWZlTXAz","spotify":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0UEvj3BfvF58BdlJCg5Zxz","sticher":null,"podaddict":null,"airdate":"2026-09-14"},{"success":"1","id":11241,"url":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/media\/videos\/speaking-of-life-5042-jesus-heals-relationships\/","title":"Speaking of Life 5042 | Jesus Heals Relationships","fileCat":"SpOL","fileID":"SpOL5042-GW-JesusHealsRelationships","youtubeID":"iHxZcRQVf2g","isTooOld":false,"isVideo":true,"isAudio":true,"widescreen":false,"mp3Link":true,"mp4Link":true,"mp4LoRes":true,"mp4EngSub":null,"wmvVodLink":false,"wmvHRLink":false,"isoLink":false,"intro":"","teaser":" When our world feels divided, it’s good news that Jesus can help us in our relationships, especially when we argue or hold grudges. He can be with us when we try to make peace with someone who hurt us, and with God’s help, we can see others as Jesus does, treat them kindly, and heal our broken relationships.<\/p>\n","videoimg":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/SpOL5042-Thumbnail-585x330-1.jpg","content":"","transcript":" Speaking of Life 5042 | Jesus Heals Relationships Human beings were created and designed for relationships. God made us not only with the capacity to relate to him and each other but with the need to connect to thrive. Despite these truths, human beings often do things that disrupt our relationships. Even when we have the best intentions, we can hurt each other. And we respond to that hurt in different ways. Some of those ways are healthy, and some of those ways can perpetuate a cycle of harm. It is no wonder that Jesus instructed his followers on how we are to respond when fellow believers cause harm. Let\u2019s read from Matthew 18:<\/p>\n If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.\u201d Jesus outlined a step-by-step process for how to deal with relational conflict that is very helpful from a practical standpoint. Additionally, Jesus\u2019 teaching provides two spiritually important truths about God. First, person-to-person relationships are important to him. He is concerned about how we connect to each other. Second, God wants to see disrupted relationships restored and he takes an active role in healing our relational wounds. This does not mean that believers can expect every hurt to be healed and every broken relationship mended in this life. However, we can expect God to help us do our part to be at peace with all people.<\/p>\n This is good news for those of us who live in a world that often seems so divided. If we create room for him in our relationships, Jesus will show up in our squabbles, grudges, and estrangements and provide healing. He desires to be in our midst when we sit down to reconcile with a neighbor who has harmed us. In fact, when we prayerfully seek God\u2019s help, the Holy Spirit will help us see our neighbor as Christ would see that person and treat that person as Jesus would treat them. This changes the dynamic of the relationship and puts the relational conflict in perspective. Jesus is the restorer of all things \u2014 even broken relationships.<\/p>\n I\u2019m Greg Williams, Speaking of Life.<\/p>\n","downloadYouTube":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=iHxZcRQVf2g","catslug":"speaking-of-life","catname":"Speaking of Life","rssurl":"http:\/\/feeds.feedburner.com\/SpeakingOfLifeMp3","appleurl":"","playurl":"https:\/\/playmusic.app.goo.gl\/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&apn=com.google.android.music&link=https:\/\/play.google.com\/music\/m\/Invbqg3jtwxr3zeouhpqgcgred4?t%3DSpeaking_Of_Life_-_Audio_Podcast%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16","googleurl":"https:\/\/www.google.com\/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLmZlZWRidXJuZXIuY29tL1NwZWFraW5nT2ZMaWZlTXAz","spotify":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0UEvj3BfvF58BdlJCg5Zxz","sticher":null,"podaddict":null,"airdate":"2026-09-07"},{"success":"1","id":11240,"url":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/media\/videos\/speaking-of-life-5041%e2%94%82christ-conqueror-of-my-soul\/","title":"Speaking of Life 5041\u2502Christ, Conqueror of My Soul","fileCat":"SpOL","fileID":"SpOL5041-CG-ChristConquerorOfMySoul","youtubeID":"yZ0RAtFW7JI","isTooOld":false,"isVideo":true,"isAudio":true,"widescreen":false,"mp3Link":true,"mp4Link":true,"mp4LoRes":true,"mp4EngSub":null,"wmvVodLink":false,"wmvHRLink":false,"isoLink":false,"intro":"","teaser":" The passage from Ernest Henley’s poem “Invictus,” contrasts the idea of being in control of our fate with the importance of surrendering to Christ as the true conqueror of our souls. Following Jesus, letting go of our self-will, and trusting in His greater purpose for humanity leads to true life.<\/p>\n","videoimg":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/SpOL5041-Thumbnail-585x330-1.jpg","content":"","transcript":" Speaking of Life 5041<\/strong>\u2502<\/strong>Christ, Conqueror of My Soul The English poet, William Ernest Henley, was an avowed atheist. You might recognize his name from his famous poem entitled, \u201cInvictus.\u201d Invictus is Latin for \u201cUnconquered.\u201d<\/p>\n Several generations of high school and college students have had this poem quoted to them at their graduation ceremonies around the world.<\/p>\n The last line of this poem boasts this:<\/p>\n It matters not how strait the gait, <\/strong><\/p>\n how charged with punishments the scroll,<\/strong><\/p>\n I am the master of my fate, <\/strong><\/p>\n I am the captain of my soul.1<\/sup> <\/strong><\/p>\n Many have risen to their feet with applause upon hearing this inspiring declaration. I wonder how these words fall on your ears. Do they make you want to go out and conquer the world?<\/p>\n While we mortal beings do possess great power and can achieve a great many things, are we truly the masters of our own fate, the captains of our own souls?<\/p>\n In his gospel, Matthew records Jesus\u2019 stinging rebuke to one of his closest disciples. After hearing from Jesus that he was going to suffer and die, Peter challenged Jesus to be the master of his own fate, the captain of his soul.<\/p>\n Jesus stopped that train of thought and informed Peter in no uncertain terms that he didn\u2019t have the things of God in mind. Following those words, Jesus clarifies where true life is found \u2013 by following him.<\/p>\n Then Jesus said to his disciples, \u201cwhoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it do for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?\u201d Jesus makes it clear to his disciples, and to us, that as his followers, we must die to our self-will. Entering into life with Christ, opens us to experience his love and the greater reality of his kingdom. Captived by Christ we realize that our longings and desires are met through participating with him in drawing humanity into the Father\u2019s loving embrace. We trade our self-generated ideas of glory in for giving him the glory trusting he is working for our good.<\/p>\n We must die to the very idea of being the masters of our own destinies. Someone else is in charge, and that someone is Jesus. He is the One who entered into our suffering, conquered our souls with the Father\u2019s love, and who through the leading of the Holy Spirit brings us into a destiny that is far greater than one who we could ask for or imagine.<\/p>\n In response to Henley\u2019s \u201cInvictus\u201d, Dorothy Day penned her poem, entitled \u201cConquered\u201d. The opening line states:<\/p>\n Out of the light that dazzles me, <\/strong><\/p>\n bright as the sun from pole to pole, <\/strong><\/p>\n I thank the God I know to be, <\/strong><\/p>\n for Christ-the conqueror of my soul.2<\/sup> <\/strong><\/p>\n Captivated by Christ may you trade your self will for the glorious destiny he has in store for all of humanity.<\/p>\n I\u2019m Cara Garrity, Speaking of Life.<\/p>\n 1) Invictus by William Ernest Henley | Poetry Foundation<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMichelle Fleming<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nMatthew 25:1-13<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
\nGreg Williams<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nA light left on in the window. A table set in expectation. A watchful glance toward the road, wondering when the long-awaited arrival will finally come.<\/p>\n
\nIn another, servants are entrusted with resources and asked to use them wisely while their master is away.<\/p>\n
\nIt is revealed in how we live, how we love, and how we reflect the heart of Christ in the world.<\/p>\n
\nWe live with humility.
\nAnd we live with readiness.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nGreg Williams<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nThere\u2019s no exception to the rule\u201d<\/p>\n
\nMatthew 22:17-22 (ESV)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nCara Garrity<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nGreg Williams<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nMichelle Fleming<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nMatthew 21:23-27 (NRSVUE<\/em>)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nGreg Williams<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nSo the last will be first, and the first will be last.
\nMatthew 20:13-16<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nJeff Broadnax<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nMatthew 18:23-30 (NRSVUE<\/em>) <\/strong><\/p>\n
\nGreg Williams<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nMatthew 18:15-20 (NRSV)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nCara Garrity<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nMatthew 16:24-26<\/strong><\/p>\n