Today, Rev. Cari preached in response to a request posed in this way: “What would Jesus say about MAID?” She chose texts from Job 19 and Matthew 22:23-33, a response of Job to his “comforting” friend, and a controversy story of Jesus being tested by the Sadducees.

She begins with a description of the “air we breathe” in the Judeo-Christian tradition as regards life and death, and identifies her own assumptions about both. Then she turns to Scripture. It’s important to be conscious about one’s interpretive lenses when dealing with a controversial subject such as this one.

Rev. Cari identifies the “pastoral bias” of her tradition, and turns to storytelling about her own recent experience accompanying two Crossroads members nearing death. She shares an “aha” that shifted her thinking about MAID.

The sermon ends with the affirmation of the United Church Creed: “In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us; we are not alone. Thanks be to God.”