RCL Reflection, Second Sunday of Advent, Year A: Dec. 4, 2022
John the Baptist proclaimed the coming Kingdom of God, but what was the vision he cast? Isaiah’s prophecy of the Peaceable Kingdom gives us a glimpse of what John saw coming with the arrival of Jesus. (Image: Detail of 1834 painting by Edward Hicks)
RCL Reflection, 1st Sunday in Advent, Year A: November 27, 2022.
This season of longing for justice, for the healing and restoration of creation, for the Messiah’s arrival, begins amid our culture’s height of hyper-consumerism. Advent provides welcome disruptions from empire’s business-as-usual.
RCL Reflection, Christ the King Sunday, Year C: November 20, 2022
Christ is the King of Kings, the ruler who turns all of our human notions and illusions of power squarely on their heads. In what by worldly definitions appears to be weakness and failure, Jesus shows that real power is rooted in love, bathed in grace, and covered with mercy. (Photo: Sue Hasker, Creative Commons)
RCL reflection for Proper 28, Year C
November 13, 2022
In today’s world, doing the right thing can be tough –- tough to discern, tough to put into practice, and tough to practice consistently. Living as God’s people, called to live counter-culturally, takes courage, vision, strength and perseverance. (Photo: rosemilkinabottle, Creative Commons)
RCL Reflection, All Saints Sunday, Year C, November 6, 2022
Take this week’s hard Gospel lesson, with its beautiful blessings and condemning woes, and remind the faithful that they are indeed in the company of all the saints and are the stronger for it. (Photo: Unity, yevkusa, Creative Commons)
RCL Reflection, Reformation Sunday/Proper 26, Year C
October 30, 2020
Reformation throughout church history is a mashup of people, places, and ideas. Why not use today to celebrate reformation–not just as history but as ongoing, necessary, and good? Check out these ideas for the lessons. (Photo: Rene Clausen Nielsen, Creative Commons)
RCL Reflection for the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost, Year C
October 23, 2022
Why be stingy with mercy toward others when God desires all to be held in the divine grip of grace? When we let go of the need to be right, to be an insider, and to be better than others, life opens up–real life. (Photo: Jimmie Quick, Creative Commons)
RCL Reflection, Proper 24, Year C
October 16, 2022
According to Jesus it’s OK to pester the powers that oppose the reign of God and justice for all. We can do this knowing that it is God’s nature to give, love, and care for us. Go ahead and pester, pester, pester for the sake of the gospel. (Photo: Caelie Frampton, Creative Commons)
Revised Common Lectionary reflection, Proper 23, Year C
October 9, 2022
One of the greatest gifts we can give to each other in Christian community is that of helping one another cultivate a spirit of gratitude. If we do this, the glad hearts and generous spirits will follow. Saying “Thank you, Jesus” is enough, but it’s only the beginning.
Revised Common Lectionary reflection, Proper 22, Year C
October 2, 2022
More is not always necessary, or even better. Take hot sauce for example. A little goes a long way. Sane goes for faith. God always gives us enough to do anything. We need only trust and be good stewards of the gift. (Photo: Creative Commons)
