Here we are in Matthew 14:22–33 and I bet in the midst of the international pandemic and our wrestling with all those problems that have become magnified by the pandemic: racism, homelessness, poverty, childcare, healthcare, etc, that we all wish we could walk on water right now. I would love to be able to identify… Read More
Whether you are following the continuous texts and have Jacob wrestling with God or the thematic texts and have the invitation to the table in Isaiah, you can’t go wrong. The sense of abundance that comes through these texts is undeniable, an abundance that is transformative and inclusive of all of humanity. What better message… Read More
When people around the world suddenly found themselves stuck at home this spring, my social media feeds mysteriously began filling with images of homemade bread. Are you one of the people who jumped on the sourdough-baking bandwagon while in quarantine? If so, you’ve got a great tangible example for this week’s sermon! “The kingdom of… Read More
On this Sunday in which the northern hemisphere is in deep summer, images of new life and growth show up in our lectionary offerings. In our journey through Genesis, Jacob is on a road trip, fleeing the furious twin from whom he finagled a birthright and stole a blessing. With a stone for a pillow,… Read More
What are your roots? In the task of self-differentiation, often the best way to control your behavior is to figure out how we became the way we are. Good counselors, psychologists & psychiatrists will start with a family history. How were you formed, how did you grow up, who are you in relationship with? Examining… Read More
Milcah sang a lullaby to her granddaughter Rebekah, born to Bethuel, You are a queen, gifted and beautiful, a sovereign over kings. You are the gladness of ancestors, and the celebration of the future. And Rebekah believed her grandmother Milcah, owned the inheritance that was sung to her. So when a nomadic king sent for… Read More
It’s not often that as the lectionary cycles around, I end up writing on the same passages I wrote on three years ago. Or maybe it is more often than I realize and these texts just stand out more than some others. Either way, I’ve written on these passages before and you can see what… Read More
As usual, the Revised Common Lectionary offers a wealth of options for preaching this week. Matthew 10 could itself be several different sermons! Take up your cross and follow Jesus. Christ brings a sword to the earth, not peace. One’s foes will be members of one’s own household. Can your community to relate to any… Read More
The Revised Common Lectionary year A offers the opportunity to sojourn with the family saga that makes up most of the book of Genesis. Sadly, the first entry in the saga is not in use this year (Ordinary 10A), in which Abram and Sarai receive their call from God to get up and go. By… Read More
Matthew 26 19-20 is the end of the beginning. It closes the gospel, like every good sermon, with what to do next. Go & Make: This command is given in such a way that it can be read wrong (and often has been). We have the authority of God not to “make” disciples by force–and… Read More
