The texts for Sunday, October 28, 2012 (Reformation Sunday): Jeremiah 31:31–34; Psalm 46; Romans 3:19–28; and John 8:31–36. “Be still, then, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth.” – Psalm 46: 10 I have a confession. Perhaps this is horrible for aContinueContinue reading “Be still, then…”
Category Archives: Sparks from the Lectionary
Wanting More
The texts for Sunday, October 14, 2012 (Lectionary 28): Amos 5:6–7, 10–15; Psalm 90:12–17; Hebrews 4:12–16; and Mark 10:17–31. “Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, ‘How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!’ And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But JesusContinueContinue reading “Wanting More”
Community and diversity
The texts for Sunday, October 7, 2012 (Lection 27): Genesis 2:18–24; Psalm 8; Hebrews 1:1–4; 2:5–12; and Mark 10:2–16 “Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.” – Genesis 2: 18 First, a (partial) re-translation of this text. ItContinueContinue reading “Community and diversity”
Welcoming the Child
The texts for Sunday, September 23,2012 (Lectionary 25): Jeremiah 11:18–20; Psalm 54; James 3:13—4:3; 4:7–8a; and Mark 9:30–37. “Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes notContinueContinue reading “Welcoming the Child”
The Way of the Cross
The texts for Sunday September 16, 2012 (Lection 24): Isaiah 50:4–9a; Psalm 116:1–9; James 3:1–12; and Mark 8:27–38. “He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save theirContinueContinue reading “The Way of the Cross”
The Syrophoenician Woman
The texts for Sunday, September 9, 2012 (Lection 23): Isaiah 35:4–7a; Psalm 146; James 2:1–10[11–13] 14–17; and Mark 7:24–37 “Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter.” – Mark 7: 26 I wonder if this story is more than it seems. I wonderContinueContinue reading “The Syrophoenician Woman”
Religion of the Heart
The texts for Sunday, September 2, 2012 (Lectionary 22): Deuteronomy 4:1–2, 6–9; Psalm 15; James 1:17–27; and Mark 7:1–8, 14–15, 21–23 “So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, ‘Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?'” – Mark 7:5 Every once in a while,ContinueContinue reading “Religion of the Heart”
Faithful Imagination
The texts for Sunday, August 26, 2012 (Lectionary 21): Joshua 24:1–2a, 14–18; Psalm 34:15–22; Ephesians 6:10–20; and John 6:56–69. “Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.'” – John 6:68-69 InContinueContinue reading “Faithful Imagination”
You are What You Eat
The texts for Sunday, August 19,2012 (Lectionary 20): Proverbs 9:1–6; Psalm 34:9–14; Ephesians 5:15–20; and John 6:51–58 “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them.” – John 6: 56 In ancient thought (particularly Greek thought), the body was seen as a microcosm of the universe. What thisContinueContinue reading “You are What You Eat”
Life-giving?
The texts for Sunday, August 12, 2012 (Lectionary 19): 1 Kings 19:4–8; Psalm 34:1–8; Ephesians 4:25—5:2; and John 6:35, 41–51 “But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: ‘It is enough; now, O LORD, take away myContinueContinue reading “Life-giving?”
What is it?
The texts for Sunday, August 5, 2012 (Lectionary 18): Exodus 16:2–4, 9–15; Psalm 78:23–29; Ephesians 4:1–16; and John 6:24–35. “When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the LORD has given you toContinueContinue reading “What is it?”
Tipping plus signs…
The texts for Sunday, July 29, 2012 (lectionary 17): 2 Kings 4:42–44; Psalm 145:10–18; Ephesians 3:14–21; and John 6:1–21. “So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets.” – John 6:13 I confess that I have an overwhelming urge whenContinueContinue reading “Tipping plus signs…”
The Feast of Mary Magdalene
The texts for Sunday, July 22, 2012 (The Feast of Mary Magdalene): Ruth 1:6–18; Psalm 73:23–28; Acts 13:26–33a; and John 20:1–18 “Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.” – John 20:18 I’m sure there was a goodContinueContinue reading “The Feast of Mary Magdalene”
Two Banquets
The texts for Sunday, July 15,2012 (Lectionary 15): Amos 7:7–15; Psalm 85:8–13; Ephesians 1:3–14; and Mark 6:14–29 “But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee.”-Mark 6:21 This text about the beheading of John the Baptist is so full of horror,ContinueContinue reading “Two Banquets”
God-Sufficient
The texts for Sunday, July 8, 2012 (Lectionary 14): Ezekiel 2:1–5; Psalm 123; 2 Corinthians 12:2–10; and Mark 6:1–13 “but he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ mayContinueContinue reading “God-Sufficient”
The Dawn from on High
The texts July 1, 2012 (moved from June 24, 2012 — the celebration of the birth of John the Baptist): Malachi 3:1–4; Psalm 141; Acts 13:13–26; and Luke 1:57–80 “By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness andContinueContinue reading “The Dawn from on High”
The Depths of Worship
The texts, moved from Sunday, July 1, 2012 to Sunday, June 24, 2012: Lamentations 3:22–33; Psalm 30; 2 Corinthians 8:7–15; and Mark 5:21–43 “The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.” -Lamentations 3:25-26ContinueContinue reading “The Depths of Worship”
About: mustard trees
The texts for Sunday, June 17,2012: Ezekiel 17:22–24; Psalm 92:1–4, 12–15; 2 Corinthians 5:6–10[11–13] 14–17; and Mark 4:26–34 “He also said, ‘With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of allContinueContinue reading “About: mustard trees”
Jabbok Dawn 