Ebenezer Scrooge, Severus Snape, Loki, The Grinch. What do they all have in common? They are suspicious of joy. In the gospel for this Sunday, we have the story of the famous prodigal son. The older son is suspicious of joy. He hears the party for the younger son, and instead of going out, he is suspicious of the joy happening. If they are being rejoiced over, then he must be less loved. Because the older son is suspicious of that joy, the Father comes to him, and the Father reminds him of his inheritance. Everything that he has is his. So, if you may be suspicious of joy, you can invite the Father in and allow and give the Father permission to say to you, “Everything that I have is yours. Your inheritance is my love.” This is Spirit Juice. Peace.
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Girding Your Loins
Girding your loins 101. Number one, be a bro from the ancient world wearing your tunic. Number two, take the bottom of your tunic and tuck it into your belt. Number three, create an ancient cargo short feature, and now you are ready to go. You’re prepared to lift heavy things, to go for a nice run. You are prepared to do battle. When Jesus says, “gird your loins” in the gospel, he is saying, “be in the position to be…
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Embrace The Ordinary
Imagine yourself three years ago. What were you like? Most likely, you have grown and matured, and the vast majority of those three years were probably really ordinary; they were probably boring. We are now in ordinary time, and the Gospel is for this Sunday. The disciples begin their three-year journey with Jesus. Imagine the disciples at the beginning of this time, and imagine who they are at the end of that time…
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God Is Proud Of You
There’s a powerful moment in Rocky Balboa when a wounded son is healed by the simple words of his father: “I’m proud of you.” Those words change everything. In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus does something just as striking. He praises John the Baptist. It’s a quiet but profound reminder that God doesn’t just correct or challenge us. He also delights in us. This Advent, consider a simple but healing question: When was the last time you allowed God to tell you He’s proud of you? As sons and daughters, we’re invited to receive those words and let them restore our hearts.
