RCL Reflection, 4th Sunday of Easter, Year B, April 22, 2018
Three simple words, LOVE, GOOD, and JESUS, are woven into our lessons today, and my prayer for you as you preach and teach is that you will weave them in ways that take root in those who hear them. May they be water for thirsty souls, bread for the hungry heart, and wine for the wounded spirit. (Photo: Jeff Djevdet, Creative Commons)
RCL Reflection, 3rd Sunday of Easter, Year B, April 15, 2018
When was the last time you had your mind opened up and blown away by the gospel? Let this week’s lessons lead you to deeper encounters with Jesus in scripture, worship, and world. Gather at the table. Create community. Be amazed at how God will work in, through, and with (and maybe even in spite of) you. (Photo: Stan Dominguez, Creative Commons)
RCL Reflection, 2nd Sunday of Easter, Year B, April 8, 2018
This week’s lessons provide a perfect opportunity to preach and teach about unity. Because there is so much distrust, disparity, injustice, sorting, and factions, we need the light of Christ more than ever. There is no better time to work for unity than right now. (Photo: Thomas Kohler)
RCL Reflection, Easter Sunday, Year B, April 1, 2018
Even though this Easter falls on April Fool’s Day, the joke’s not on us. The joke’s on death and the powers of darkness. Ditch your fear, holy fools, and let the living, loving, and telling begin. Christ has died. Christ is risen! Christ will come again! (Photo: Trishhhh, Creative Commons)
RCL Reflection, Palm/Passion Sunday Year B, March 25, 2018
The liturgy for this Sunday does not leave much room for a lengthy sermon, so why not consider a short exploration on the unnamed woman’s act of pouring out costly ointment on Jesus’ head was a lavish act of love and radical stewardship. How do we today show our love for Jesus. (Photo: Bible Museum, Creative Commons License)
RCL Reflection, 5th Sunday in Lent, Year B, March 18, 2018
Jesus announces that he is drawing all people to himself in a most humble and unexpected way. There is no fanfare, no empty promises, and no shortcut around the reality of what it means to love God, serve Jesus, and love neighbor. Only through death can we experience real and lasting life. (Photo: Charles Knowles, Creative Commons)
Revised Common Lectionary Reflection, Fourth Sunday in Lent, March 11, 2018
God’s been at this love business for a mighty long time, too. Having spoken the world into being—itself a great act of creative love—God continues to provide humankind with a way forward, no matter how much we grumble or how abysmally we fail at loving God in return. This, my friends, is very good news! (Photo: Bob Brennaman, Creative Commons)
RCL Reflection, 3rd Sunday in Lent, Year B, March 4, 2018
After all these years, God is still confounding the powerful and privileged with the good news and the scandal of the cross. Jesus is still making room at the table for the marginalized and outcast. The wine is poured and bread is shared in the name of the one who opened his arms to all in the midst of his own agony and horrific death. How will you respond to this countercultural vision of wisdom and strength. (Photo: Creative Commons License)
RCL Reflection, 2nd Sunday in Lent, Feb. 25, 2018
The terrifyingly good news infused through this week’s lessons is simply that God breaks in, usually when we least expect it, and invites us to live and love and walk in ways we wouldn’t imagine or choose on our own. We may fall on our faces, like Abram did, but we don’t get to stay that way; we get up, take up our cross, and follow Jesus into real life. (Photo: Loco Steve, Creative Commons)
RCL Reflection, 1st Sunday in Lent, Year B, Feb. 18, 2018
It’s helpful to pack as lightly as possible for the Lenten journey. How can we encourage one another to lay down our burdens, our possessions, our addictions–anything that comes between us and God–so that we can make space and time for divine encounters? Mark’s gospel structure gives us some hints. (Photo: S. Blezard, Creative Commons)
