Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year B, April 26, 2015
The 23rd psalm may be to the life of faith what mac and cheese is to comfort food, but it’s certainly no promise of a four-lane highway. The good news is that Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is with us all the way–guiding, goading, loving, and equipping each and every one of us for the journey. (Photo: Joan Campderros i Canas, Creative Commons)
Lectionary Reflection for the Third Sunday of Easter, Year B
April 19, 2015
We may not have been sharing a meal of fish over a charcoal fire on the lakeside beach with the first disciples, but we share Christ’s very self and consume Christ’s amazing love whenever we gather at his table. This week’s lessons tell a love story that never ends, that we are written right into and that is written (quite literally) into our very hearts.(Photo: Marcelino Renayla, Jr, Creative Commons)
Second Sunday of Easter Year B, April 12, 2015
Jesus’ simple guide for an abundant life in faithful community has been working well for more than two milennia. It’s easy to contextualize, simple to follow, and provides proven results. The problem is that it requires a radical commitment. If you want signs, wonders, and movement-making, you have to be “all in.” (Photo: Mary Constance, Creative Commons)
Resurrection of our Lord, Year B, April 5, 2015
The Gospel of Mark’s original ending is raw, intense, and real. What might happen if we admit and honor our own 21st century fear, amazement, confusion, and silence in the face of this Good News? (Photo: Keoni Cabral, Creative Commons)
Sunday of the Passion (Palm Sunday), Year B
March 29, 2015
So just what does stewardship have to do with Holy Week and the Passion story? Actually, quite a lot. Holy Week provides an excellent chunk of time to be intentional about the stewardship of time, resources, and relationship. (Photo: Lian Chang, Creative Commons)
Palm/Passion Sunday provides plenty of opportunities to lift up themes of creation and creation care, says the reflection from lutheransrestoringcreation.org, which offers a weekly commentary to bring preaching “down to earth.”
Lectionary Reflection for the Fifth Sunday in Lent, Year B March 22, 2015 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and […]
Narrative Lectionary Reflection for March 8, 2015
We possess a great treasure in the good news of Jesus Christ. We have been invited to dine with God, to taste and see that the Lord is good, and to be strengthened with a taste of the reign that even now is breaking into our world in surprising ways and unexpected places. (Photo: torbakhopper, Creative Commons)
Lectionary Reflection, 3rd Sunday in Lent, Year B
March 8, 2015
Lest we think this week’s gospel reading has nothing to do with us in 21st century western Christendom, it would be wise to consider what moneychangers exist in our modern congregational edifices. What currency must be exchanged in order to “rightly” worship and enter the community today? (Photo: Luca Giordano, Wikimedia Commons)
Narrative Lectionary Reflection for March 1, 2015
The parable of the workers in the vineyard is certainly applicable to 21st century disciples, too. Perhaps as individuals we can be sort of stingy with God’s grace—not to mention sharing our own resources. Do we really trust God so little that we fail to believe the divine promise of plenty? (Photo: Chris Potter, Creative Commons)
