Category Archives: Sparks from the Lectionary

The texts for Sunday, July 17, 2011 are:  Wisdom of Solomon 12:13, 16–19; Psalm 86:11–17; Romans 8:12–25; and Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43 “the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one” – Matthew 13:38b “For neither is there any god besides you, whose care is for allContinueContinue reading “simul wheat and weeds?”

Texts for Sunday, July 10, 2011:   Isaiah 55:10–13;  Psalm 65:1–13;  Romans 8:1–11; and Matthew 13:1–9, 18–23 “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. … If the SpiritContinueContinue reading “The body is good, sarx, on the other hand …”

Texts for Sunday, July 3: Zechariah 9:9-12, Psalm 145:8-1, Romans 7:15-25a, and Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 In these texts we hear some ideas and hopes and dreams that are very counter to our understanding of the world: texts that lift up power as humility and peacefulness,  texts that suggest that God’s wisdom is not meant for the wise,ContinueContinue reading “I get it! … but I don’t get it!”

Texts for June 26, 2011: Jeremiah 28:5–9; Psalm 89:1–4, 15–18; Romans 6:12–23; and Matthew 10:40–42 “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteousContinueContinue reading “Free to Stumble”

Texts for Sunday, June 19, 2011: Genesis 1:1-2:4a; Psalm 8; 2 Corinthians 13:11–13; and Matthew 28:16–20 “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars you have set in their courses, what are mere mortals that you should be mindful of them, human beings that you should care for them?”ContinueContinue reading “Fingerprints”

  Texts for June 12, 2011: Numbers 11:24–30, Psalm 104:24-34, 35b, Acts 2:1-21, John 20:19-23 “Would that all the LORD’s people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit on them!” – Numbers 11:29b The incredible thing about Pentecost is that God pours out God’s Spirit on all of God’s people:  the young, theContinueContinue reading “You, Prophet!”

Texts for Sunday, May 29, 2011: Acts 17:22-31, Psalm 66:8-20, 1 Peter 3:13-22, John 14:15-21.   “Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence.” – 1Peter 3:15b-16a I’ve been thinking about evangelism a good bit theseContinueContinue reading “Gentle Evangelism?”

Texts for February 13, 2011: Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Psalm 119:1-8; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9; and Matthew 5:21-37 What do you envision the perfect community would be like?  Throughout the biblical texts, the people struggle with this vision:  with their ideals of a perfect community, with God’s idea of a perfect community, and how the current community, whatever itsContinueContinue reading “The Perfect Community”

Texts for February 6, 2011:  Isaiah 58:1–12; Psalm 112:1–10; 1 Corinthians 2:1–16 and Matthew 5:13-20. “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread withContinueContinue reading “God’s Fasting”