Just as Christ is “the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end,” at the close of every liturgical year, we look forward, with renewed hope, to Christ’s coming again in glory to reign as Lord forever. In the same way, we also look forward to our own resurrection and the time of a new earth — an earth that is no longer broken by sin and groaning. Christ will come again in glory just as surely as He came the first time, when He was born. So we have these three weeks of “transition” at the end of the “long green season” into the Advent Season: the new beginning of the liturgical year.

Look at the party the father is throwing. The whole town is there. Even that scoundrel Matt is there who stole from the father’s business. I can’t even believe he is throwing this party for that son who took everything from him. But did you hear about the drama with the older son? He is refusing to go into the party? After all it is raining on all the party.

We find ourselves in deserts. They seem so lonely, and we long for the peace and coolness of the gardens. But God is always in the desert with us, and He will always lead us to gardens flowing with milk and honey.

A voice breaks through and says, Take, Take the apple, take the blessing, take your brother." There is just not enough. But the other voice says, "Look at the stars, and count them if you can.

What do you spend your time considering? Your financial portfolio? Who to vote for? How there is never enough? Jesus gives us some backwards advice. Consider the birds.