2nd Sunday in Lent, 2024

 Some might say that this world is in a mell of a hess. With war in Eastern Europe and in the Middle East, not to mention all the rancor and polarization at home, we are acutely aware of the mess. With around the clock news we are reminded of all the messes incessantly. The problems are overwhelming! But when in the world has it been any different? In the words of Billy Joel, “We didn’t start the fire // It was always burning, since the world’s been turning.” Only, Billy Joel doesn’t have it quite right. It hasn’t always been burning, though it has been for a long time. It began burning when our first parents took a bite out of the forbidden fruit. And although you and I may not have started it, we have each contributed to the flame. The question is: Is there a way out of this mess? … The answer is YES, and the Gospel Lesson shows us the way…