Once Upon a time, in a land far away, two young peasants-a brother and sister named Muck and Mire—left home together. They packed a lunch and skipped through the front door of their home.
"Where are you going?" their mother asked.
"We're off to see the king!" they answered. (They often talked in unison. They were very close, you see.) They pointed to the royal castle on the hillside.
Their mother smiled. "That's nice. Be sure you're home in time for dinner."
Muck and Mire just laughed. They planned to have dinner with the king and all his noblemen and servants at the palace. Before long, Muck and Mire met a woman washing clothes on the rocks by the river.
"Pray tell us," they said to the woman in unison, "how we mightiest findeth the kingeth."
The old woman glared at them. "Whatcha talkin' all funny for?" she barked. "This ain't no fairy tale. Besides, there ain't no king. Now run along!"
Muck and Mire left the woman and continued on their journey. Before long they met a man carrying a large pig.
"Pray tell us," they said, "how we mightest findeth the kingeth."
"Forsooth," the man said. "Each of us must find the king himself. I cannot tell thee where to find the king." And he walked away.
Muck and Mire began to get discouraged. They hung their heads in disappointment and hardly noticed the man who approached them. He wore long, flowing robes of purple and scarlet, trimmed with white fur. A golden scepter was in his right hand, a jeweled crown of gold sat on his head, and a paper name tag was pasted over his heart. On the name tag was written, in magic marker, "King."
"Pray tell us," they said, "how we mightest findeth the kingeth."
The man smiled. "I that speak unto thee am he."
"No, really," they said. "We want to meet the king."
The man pointed a finger at his name tag. "See?" he said. He pointed to his crown and waved his scepter at them. "I'm the king."
Muck turned to Mire. "Let's go home," he said. "We'll never find the king."
"Yeah," Mire agreed. They shook their heads and turned away from the man with the crown and the scepter.
REFLECT: How was Muck and Mire's mistake like Pilate's mistake in today's Bible reading? (Bible Reading: John 18:28-38. "All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true." - John 18:37). How were the reactions of the laundry woman and the pig farmer similar to how some people today think about right and wrong? Is either reaction similar to your own?
PRAYER: " Almighty and Loving Father in Heaven, you are my King. You are "the way, the truth, and the life." Help me to follow you, obey you, and live for you. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, In Jesus Loving Name I Pray, Amen."
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