Revised Common Lectionary Reflection for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost, Year A, August 6, 2017
In this week’s gospel lesson, Jesus instructs his disciples to give the crowd something to eat. All they see is scarcity and an impossible situation. Jesus sees and makes abundance. What do you see? God’s abundance is all around, and we are invited to share in it. Are you ready to feed and be fed? Come to the table! (Photo: hoyasmeg, Creative Commons)
Revised Common Lectionary Reflection for the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost, Year A, July 30, 2017
Like adolescent students afraid to show our lack of understanding, folks often claim an understanding of the mysteries of the faith and what it takes to be a faithful steward and disciple. After all, no one likes to ask the dumb question or be perceived to be lacking in knowledge. For the church to meet the demands of our 21st century world it’s absolutely essential that we have clear teaching and preaching, working on biblical literacy in ways that abate fear and feelings of inadequacy, helping families find ways to nurture faith in the home, and welcoming everyone to the table and life in Christian community. (Photo: Samah Arafat, Creative Commons)
Revised Common Lectionary Reflection for the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost, Year A, July 23, 2017
We need to remind one another that God created this world and all that’s in it, proclaiming it good. Sin entered the world, sowing pain and suffering in its wake and fracturing the perfect goodness of the created order. God came into the messy midst of us in human form to bridge that fracture and begin the process of redeeming all creation. We, saint and sinner, Duke’s Mixture disciples, are involved in that restoration. (Photo: Aske Holst, Creative Commons)
Revised Common Lectionary for the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost, Year A, July 16, 2017
What if we say that as Christians we are indeed between a rock (the rock of our salvation) and a hard place (life in this beautiful, broken world)? Jesus will not let us go and will not let the world crush us. Life may be hard, and we may hurt, but we are never alone. We have amazing hope and freedom—fertile soil in which to nurture our faith. Here Paul’s words again: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Say it again and let the words sink deep into your being. This is good news for all of us. (Photo: John Farrell Macdonald, Creative Commons)
RCL Reflection, Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, Year A, July 9, 2017
In Jesus we have not only a life saver but also a life Savior, and this makes all the difference in the world. in 1912 the creation of small life saver-shaped candies saved candy maker Clarence Crane’s business by boosting his summer sales when shipping chocolate was impractical, The salvation Jesus freely offers us as our Life Savior is ever so much sweeter and longer lasting! (Photo: Amanda Munoz, Creative Commons)
RCL Reflection, 4th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A, July 2, 2017
Trust, obedience, and tough texts are on the menu this week. We may squirm and question Abraham’s near-sacrifice of Isaac. We may even prefer to avoid the story altogether, relegating it to the dark corners where we hide the most shameful, confusing, and violent of biblical texts. We may scratch our heads about how to make Paul’s logic accessible and meaningful to those we serve, and before it’s over we may feel like WE need somebody to hand US a cup of cold water. Yes, relinquishing our illusion of control and following Jesus is a countercultural and seemingly risky thing. It is, however, what we are called to do. (Photo: Darwin Bell, Creative Commons)
3rd Sunday after Pentecost, Year A, June 25, 2017: What’s a preacher supposed to do with these “hard” lessons for this week? If we set the discipleship bar too high, won’t that alienate the folks who want an easy life? Easy is not always the answer. In fact, most things truly worth having require expenditures of time, effort, and energy. Why should we expect the journey of faith to be any different? If Jesus’ life and ministry and the paths of his early followers are our model, most of us are in real trouble! (Photo: Barbara Kruger, Modern Art Oxford Creative Commons)
Revised Common Lectionary Reflection for the Second Sunday after Pentecost, Year A, June 18, 2017
Faithful ministry and mission in the 21st century is an uncertain (and potentially volatile) mix of sound management and radical risk-taking. This week’s gospel lesson can instill either terror or radical risk-taking into everyday disciples and congregational leaders. Let’s shake the dust of fear off and fling wide the doors to go forth into a hurting and needy world. (Photo: Paxson Woelber, Creative Commons)
Revised Common Lectionary Reflection, Trinity Sunday, Year A, June 11, 2017
Holy Trinity Sunday is an excellent time to remind one another that we do not “go it alone” when we follow Jesus and live disciples in the beloved community. We are stewards of a very good gospel, yes indeed, but we are also stewards of one another. We are called into relationship, no matter how messy, difficult, or beautiful that may be on any given day. (Photo: Camdiluv, Creative Commons)
RCL Reflection, Pentecost Sunday, Year A, June 4, 2017:
What languages are spoken in your congregation? What message are people hearing? How do you hear the good news? Most importantly, is the language of love infused in every song, every sermon, every handshake and hug? Is love woven into the fibers of ministry and the mission of all disciples? Is love the last word in all you say and do in the name of Jesus? (Photo: Denise Krebs, Creative Commons)
