The heart of this reading has to do with the tangible and the intangible, with the physical and the spiritual.

In this prayer, the psalmist cries out for God to rescue and protect.

God, who knows more about Jeremiah than he knows about himself, has uniquely equipped Jeremiah for this work.

In this reading, Jesus reminds his hearers that following him and aligning your life with his can be costly.

When we feel discouraged or we become tired of trying to do the right thing, we can imagine these heroes encouraging us and urging us to continue pressing forward in our faith.

The psalmist is reminding God of the days when Israel flourished, providing safety and rest for those already established among the people and for those seeking refuge.

This reading from the prophet Isaiah begins with the image of a vineyard, carefully attended to by God.

“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

What are the things that you hope for in your life, in the church, in your community, or in the world?

An important step in living as God’s people is giving thanks.