The following is a reflection on Mark 4:26-34, the Gospel lesson properly appointed for Proper 6B, according to the Revised Common Lectionary. If you had to describe the sight of the ocean, to someone who’d never seen it before, where would you even start?
The following is a reflection on Luke 24:36b-48, the Gospel lesson for Easter 3B and the Thursday in Easter Week, according to the Revised Common Lectionary. The Gospel authors (especially Luke and John) go to great lengths to show that there’s something different about the resurrected Christ. Something so different that Mary Magdalene doesn’t recognize Jesus, and in fact mistakes him for the gardener, on Easter morning. And then the disciples on the road to […]
The following is a reflection on Matthew 16:21-28, the Gospel lesson for August 28, 2011, according to the Revised Common Lectionary (Proper 17). • Be sure to check out a reflection on the Hebrew Bible lesson for the same day . “Get behind me Satan!” has been a stock conversational phrase in our culture for quite some time now. But, even though we use it, and hear it, often, I’m not sure we’re much closer […]
The following is a reflection on Matthew 16:13-20, the Gospel lesson for August 21, 2011, according to the Revised Common Lectionary. On this site there is also a reflection on the Old Testament lesson for the same day. Peter could have proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ, in many, many places. The choices were practically limitless. He could have done it in the Temple, on a mountaintop, or on a boat by the sea. […]
A reflection on Matthew 14:22-33, the Gospel lesson for August 7, 2011, for proper 14 in the Revised Common Lectionary. A reflection on the Old Testament lesson for the same day is available here. If ever there is a story in the gospels which sums up the Gospel, this is it. The story begins like the story of Creation. As the Spirit of God hovered over the waters just before light was called into being—Jesus […]
A reflection on Matthew 14:13-21, the gospel lesson for July 31st according to the Revised Common Lectionary. There is also a reflection for the Old Testament lessons for this same day here. He had just received word that John the Baptist was dead. Beheaded. Their families were close. Their mothers had gotten together when they were pregnant with each of them. They were both servants of God, sent to preach the Good News. Jesus had […]
This is part 2 of 3… More and more I’m a believer that when we talk about salvation and damnation, heaven and hell – what we’re actually talking about, right there under the surface, is the character of God. What we believe happens to the souls of humanity after death says a lot about what kind of God we believe in. And, when we’re talking about hell and damnation, it’s maybe a little easier to […]
Jesus promises to prepare a place in His Father's house for us. And that's where this passage strikes me in the gut: In God's House, where His Name is worshiped, and where He dwells...I have a place. A spot. I am invited in. You're invited in. We're invited in.