“From the fruit of his mouth a man’s stomach is filled” is how one version expresses the first part of verse 20.

What a fascinating and counter-intuitive thought! We might normally expect that our bellies are filled by what goes into them, not by what comes out – that what we say is the product, or fruit, of ideas and influences we have ingested. And, of course, that is true enough, but these two sayings playfully flip the obvious idea on its head.

Where do you turn when you’re desperate? “Teacher, please do something for my son!” a voice yells from out of the crowd. This father’s distress and desperation are clear. Here is his only child. For years he has watched helplessly as his son suffers through horrible fits. No medicines have helped. No religious leaders have helped. Even Jesus’ disciples have failed to help. There is nowhere left to go, except to Jesus.

This short passage starts with an argument. Jesus has just finished telling his followers that he’s about to be handed over to his enemies. The fact that the disciples don’t have a clue what Jesus is getting at shows how far they really are from being his right-hand men. Yet here they are, squabbling over which of them is the best.

Jesus’ response remains as challenging today as it must have sounded to the disciples: the key to greatness is humility.

Weddings are incredible occasions. A while back, I officiated at my son’s wedding. What an enormous moment, leading two young people in love through their vows to love, honour, and cherish one another, no matter what comes their way. The promises a couple makes on their wedding day are almost shocking in their boldness.

It would be even more shocking, though, if a couple didn’t make those promises to each other on their wedding day.

I recently had the honour of conducting a memorial service for a family member who had committed suicide. He left behind a wife and 2 month old daughter, his parents, a brother and a long list of relatives and friends. Leading the memorial gathering was a tough assignment!

The questions in the minds of the mourners were obvious. Why did he resort to such drastic action?

Have you ever wanted something but knew that your desire was wrong? Perhaps it was improper relationship with a member of the opposite sex. Maybe it was taking a little extra money from the company’s bank account. Maybe it was cheating on your income taxes or that final exam at school?

We are constantly bombarded with opportunities to serve our own desires.

“Lord have mercy! Christ have mercy! Lord, have mercy on us!”

I uttered those words as I read the horrendous details of the September 2013 shopping mall massacre in Nairobi, Kenya. One bright, sunny day terrorists stormed the mall, shooting and throwing grenades. Over four days they tortured and killed more than 70 people and injured more than 200 men, women and children. So many innocent lives destroyed.