the Gospel also recognizes two types of disciples, the itinerants who take to the road and the householders who provide them support.

Although the combined verses command love of God and love of neighbor, they do not mean, “Just do some good loving, but forget about dietary regulations, circumcision, Sabbath observance, or Temple sacrifice.” They mean that the love commandments become the touchstone by which all other actions are assessed.

What does a parent do to show a love that the child never felt? The parable shows us that indulgence does not buy love, but withholding can stifle it. And so we search, desperately, because our family is not whole. Sheep and coins are easy; children less so. What

To be in his presence is not only to be challenged and comforted; it is to celebrate at table.

Tanakh (an acronym for Torah, or Pentateuch; Nevi’im, or Prophets; and Ketuvim, or Writings).

perhaps the parable tells us that despite all our images of golden slippers and harps and halos, the kingdom is present at the communal oven of a Galilean village when everyone has enough to eat.

The kingdom is present when humanity and nature work together, and we do what we were put here to do—to go out on a limb to provide for others, and ourselves as well.

When church becomes a club, parables become pedestrian.

Luke’s story of Jesus opens with his being placed in a “manger,” that is, a feeding trough. What more delicious symbolism could there be for the person who would compare his body to bread?