Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer (Romans 12:12 NRSV) Get behind me. Tone of voice is difficult to determine when all we have is the text. We do have context and that can help. Peter- the rock, the foundation, bearing witness he proclaims this Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God(Matthew 16:16) Now when Peter pulls Jesus aside to say “God forbid it, this should never happen to you (suffering and death)”- Jesus commands him, “Get behind

"Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you." Jeremiah 29:12

The silent “t”. Over the years I have discovered that having a silent “t” in my first name helps weed out telemarketing phone calls. When I was child I tried to find ways to explain the spelling, “it’s like escargot”. That didn’t always work. It can take time to learn to pronounce a name. Yesterday, I appreciated when someone whose name is spelled in such a way that there could be confusion on its’ pronunciation had her name spelled out phonetically on the Zoom screen. Names

Shortly before Martin Luther died, a piece of paper containing his handwriting was found in his pocket. Among other words on the paper were these: “This is true. We are all beggars.” (James M. Kittelson, Luther the Reformer: The Story of the Man and His Career (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1986, 2003), 297. We are all beggars. That came to mind this week as I reflected upon desperation. That is what I hear in the Canaanite woman’s plea that Jesus heal her daughter of demons.

Trust God! With a fist raised like in a cheer- we said it again and again during Vacation Bible School (VBS). It was the call and response of Wilderness Escape as we engaged via Zoom in online VBS with bible stories; the Israelites escape from Egypt through the Red Sea, the Manna and Quail in the wilderness, and the Ten Commandments given on the mountaintop. God is with us- Trust God. God gives us what we need- Trust God. God guides us- Trust God. This weekend as we hear th