Revised Common Lectionary: Prayers and Whining

If you were ever going to have a “superheroes of the Bible” series in worship, this would be a great week to start! Esther saves the lives of an entire nation. And Harbona the eunuch gives a solid assist. A woman as a superhero with a queer sidekick? This Bible reading pushes more boundaries than any Marvel movie.

The Revised Common Lectionary offers a wealth of preaching options this week. If you are focusing on Mark, there are several nuggets of wisdom that could become the focus of a sermon.
Whoever is not against us is for us!
Do not put a stumbling block in front of the little ones.
Remove anything from your life that separates you from God.
Be salty.
Which of Jesus’ teachings is most relevant to your community today?

The reading from Numbers is one that nearly every pastor can empathize with. God’s people are whiny, and Moses asks God why he was ever called to lead them! Which means that all of God’s people, including Moses, were whiny. And then Moses finds a way to share the burden of leadership, recognizing when other people are able to be prophets also.

In James, we hear that the prayer of faith will heal the sick. While we know this to be true, this and similar Bible passages have been used unfaithfully during this pandemic to justify individuals’ choices that put the health of the community at risk. How can you preach that prayer heals, while also reminding folks that we are called upon to care for the most vulnerable? Caring for the most vulnerable means relying on medicine as well as prayers for the health of the whole community.

Whether you’ve got a finished draft or you haven’t yet chosen your preaching text, thank you for joining the conversation! Please share your ideas and questions below. Happy writing!

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Katya Ouchakof is enjoying a bivocational professional life, serving as a hospital chaplain and a paddlesports professional in Madison, WI (USA).

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