In these days of angry rhetoric and blustering politicians who obfuscate the truth if they want or need to, we can’t be blamed if we feel more unsettled than usual.

Jesus visits his friends, Martha and Mary. Luke writes, “As they went on their way, Jesus enters a village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary … .”

We will be celebrating another 4th of July next week, looking forward to gathering with family and friends to enjoy the holiday. However, fireworks have already rocketed into view in many places, and the rhetoric associated with these fireworks is hateful, to say the least.