Drum Voices

John 14:1–6
Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” Either Jesus is who he says he is (in which case we are obliged to give our whole lives to him), or he is a madman (in which case we should be against him).

What does not remain, as C. S. Lewis saw so clearly, is the bland middle position that, though he isn’t divine, he is a good, kind, and wise ethical teacher. If he isn’t who he says he is, then he isn’t admirable at all.

Thus Jesus compels a choice in a manner that no other religious founder does. The Buddha could claim that he had found a way that he wanted to share with his followers, but Jesus said, “I am the way.” Muhammad could say that, through him, the final divine truth had been communicated to the world, but Jesus said, “I am the truth.” Confucius could maintain that he had discovered a new and uplifting form of life, but Jesus said, “I am the life.” And thus, we are either with Jesus or we are against him. No other founder forces that choice as clearly as Jesus does. - Bishop Robert Barron

Matthew 21:33–43, 45–46
Friends, just before his passion and death, Jesus tells this striking story of the landowner who planted a vineyard. The fertile vineyard stands for Israel, his chosen people. But it could be broadened out to include the world. What do we learn from this beautiful image? That God has made for his people a place where they can find rest, enjoyment, and good work.

We—Israel, the Church, the world—are not the owners of this vineyard; we are tenants. One of the most fundamental spiritual mistakes we can make is to think that we own the world. We are tenants, entrusted with the responsibility of caring for it, but everything that we have and are is on loan. Our lives are not about us.

Christ is God’s judgment. We are all under his judgment. In the measure that we reject him or refuse to listen to him, we place our tenancy in jeopardy. And so the great question that arises from this reading: How am I using the gifts that God gave me for God’s purposes? My money? My time? My talents? My creativity? My relationships? All is for God, and thus all is under God’s judgment. - Bishop Barron

I don't know why this hasn't received more publicity, but this fifty-foot sculpture was unveiled recently in South Dakota.
It's called 'Dignity' and was done by artist Dale Lamphere to honor the women of the Sioux Nation.

Access your free Psalms Study Guide » Discover the power and beauty of the book of Psalms with a free study guide from Luther Seminary.

Across cities like Auckland, Nelson, and Waiheke Island, fruit trees are intentionally planted in public spaces, including sidewalks, parks, and berms, so anyone can pick fresh produce for free. According to OurAuckland, these trees include apples, plums, feijoas, figs, and even bananas, all grown with support from local councils and community trusts.

The movement is part of a broader push for urban foraging, which encourages residents to gather food from publicly accessible trees and gardens. According to Urban Foraging NZ, there’s even an interactive map that lets people locate fruit and nut trees in their neighborhoods, add new ones, and share seasonal updates. Waiheke Island alone planted nearly 1,000 fruit trees through the “Love Our Fruit Trees” project, with locals acting as “tree guardians” to care for them. This initiative not only promotes food resilience and sustainability, but also fosters a sense of community and shared responsibility.

Matthew 6:1–6, 16–18
Friends, today’s Gospel asks us to do three things: pray, fast, and give alms. Let’s focus today on prayer. Studies show that prayer is a very common, very popular activity. Even those who profess no belief in God pray!

What is prayer, and how should we pray? Prayer is intimate communion and conversation with God. Judging from Jesus’ own life, prayer is something that we ought to do often, especially at key moments of our lives.

Well, how should we pray? What does it look like? You have to pray with faith, and according to Jesus’ model, you have to pray with forgiveness. The efficacy of prayer seems to depend on the reconciliation of differences.

You also have to pray with persistence. One reason that we don’t receive what we want through prayer is that we give up too easily. Augustine said that God sometimes delays in giving us what we want because he wants our hearts to expand.

Finally, we have to pray in Jesus’ name. In doing so, we are relying on his influence with the Father, trusting that the Father will listen to him. - Bishop Robert Barron

I’m NOT Tagging anybody!!! MY MILITARY VETS WILL SHOW UP IN FULL FORCE!!! Calling ALL My Vets. My circle may be small, but I got enough SOLID brothers & sisters in my life. I am doing a battle buddy check-in showing support for one another. I need at least 7 warriors to post this message to show you are ALWAYS there if someone needs to talk.
I have no idea who will say Done in my post but I have faith!
Veterans Crisis Line: 988

Posted for all Military Veterans, and too many I knew that took their own life!

Anyone interested in participating in any or all of my three HealthRhythms Drum Circles contact me through what's app for more information

Dog Tag Drummers Stress Relief and Community Connectivity Drum Circle meets every 2nd and 4th Wednesday Night each month from 7:00 - 8:30 PM. No musical experience is necessary. Our mission is to reduce the number of suicides that occur daily through a recreational music activity that bring veterans together with caring members of our local community who want to help veterans recover from the stressful effects of PTSD AND LONELINESS they experience when they are discharged or retire from the military service. Please join us. For more information and meeting notification, look for Dog Tag Drummers on the Meetup.com website.