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)
Narrative Lectionary Reflection for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, Year Three, July 9, 2017
This week we finish our summer Psalm series, and we end on a high note—a note of praise and hallelujah. Imagine how much better our world could be if we always ended on a note of praise with a song of joy and thanksgiving on our lips? What if we trusted God enough to offer our praise and thanksgiving no matter what our situation? (Photo: Derek Bridges, Creative Commons)
Narrative Lectionary Reflection for the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, Year Three, July 2, 2017
Psalm 30 is a song of praise to the God who constantly lifts us up and who will never leave us. How should we respond? We may sing off-key and dance awkwardly, but our job is to point to the One who holds it all together, to pour out our offering of praise and thanks, to fall down seven and get up eight by the grace of God. How will you sing of God’s goodness this Sunday? How will you proclaim the promise and hope of resurrection in the face of this world’s lies about death and destruction? What song is stuck in your head? (Photo: Noel Pennington, Creative Commons)
Narrative Lectionary Reflection for the Third Sunday after Pentecost, Year Three, June 25, 2017
Luther likens the 23rd Psalm’s “green pasture” to the church, and the church’s beloved community to the Good Shepherd’s flock. It is easy to overlook the fact that this short psalm of praise is both communal as well as personal. We are stronger in community, and we have the capacity to be better, too. In community, in concert and in contact with God’s word read and proclaimed, and in the bread and wine of Holy Communion, we experience something precious and life-giving. We are strengthened for the journey, our focus is sharpened, and we are reminded of God’s many good gifts. In our life together we affirm our abundance rather than fear our scarcity. (Photo: Katrina L, Creative Commons)
Narrative Lectionary for the Second Sunday after Pentecost, Year Three, June 18, 2017
To be human is to enter into suffering. He or she who denies that fact is a liar. Our world is broken. Sin and death, although ultimately defeated, are nipping at our heels like worrisome little yapping dogs. Even God’s people behave badly and let us down. This is part of what it means to be human in a fallen world. Thankfully, this is not where we stay after a season of lament. God’s hope is ever-present and real.
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)
Narrative Lectionary Reflection for Pentecost Sunday, Year Three, June 4, 2017
With the Narrative Lectionary this year we are given choice to focus on a snippet from Acts and a relevant passage from Galatians, or we can choose to highlight the Fruits of the Spirit from Galatians 5. Whatever the choice, even with the Gospel passage, the focus in on the Holy Spirit and how that mysterious, unsettling, and powerful divine presence and force works in the lives of the faithful, goading and cajoling us to speak and live the language of love. (Photo: Waiting for the Word, 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)
Revised Common Lectionary reflection, Seventh Sunday of Easter, Year A, May 28, 2017
Listen. Can you hear the voice of Jesus praying for you? Can you feel yourself surrounded by his love for you and for this world? Can you feel in the words of John’s gospel this week what it means to be in Christ, to be covered with his abiding love and the divine desire for relationship? Can you sense the power of prayer as these words enter your mind, heart, and being? Listen again. Breathe in the power of prayer. Now, go and share that power with others so that all may know Christ’s love. (Photo: David Morris, Creative Commons)
Narrative Lectionary for the Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year Three, May 21, 2017
Here we stand at the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, when Martin Luther determined to call the church back to accountability in the gospel, to rid God’s people of extraneous and burdensome practices that he felt ran counter to the teachings of Jesus. Not surprisingly, things changed in both expected and unexpected ways. Also not surprising is the fact that some things haven’t changed after all these years. We still need to clean our lenses to see Jesus clearly and love our neighbors more dearly. (Photo: Jro, Creative Commons)
