All through the ages and pages of history humanity has been on a quest toward faith. We all possess the same basic ingredients that “program” us in living morally and ethically. None of us are born fantasizing about how to mow down people in public with an assault rifle. As the famous song in “South Pacific” goes, “you have to be carefully taught.” It is inherent in us to decry and fight oppression and falsehood. We are taught to care for the aged, protect the young and innocent, and to give toward church or charity. Then there are times when civilization takes crazy detours on the path. The Crusades. Burning “witches” at the stake. Being bamboozled by genocidal maniacs. We are convicted even if misguided.

Now we find ourselves in postmodernity. There are no absolutes, at least in minds of Gen X’ers, Z’s and millennials. We are meandering and finding alternative routes in the GPS of our beliefs. Which way is shorter? Faster? Young people are confounded by the hypocrisy and oppression that appear to go hand in hand with faith and belief. Jesus is, and always has been, wise to us. In yesterday’s Gospel, as in several other places, he calls the crowds hypocrites. What does the light at the end of our tunnel look like? How many circuitous routes will we take? How many paths will we choose? I do delight when professed atheists are finally able to see the light at the end of their stubborn, misguided tunnel. We are discovering more congruence between faith and science. There is indeed a logical, safe merging of those two paths.

You and I, the more we interact with each other, will eventually find divergent paths of opinion and mindset. We are each uniquely and wonderfully made. Even identical twins can come to loggerheads. Yet our faith and belief remain. Shaken a little from time to time; jarred off the path, only to careen back on to it. As long as our compass continues to show us the paths of kindness and benevolence, we have a chance. Obstacles on the path need not defeat us. Our creating and sustaining God will always love you unconditionally.

May your journey on the path of believing show you many wonders of grace.

Pastor Art