Maundy Thursday A2023 John 13:1-17, 31b-35 In a poem entitled Fear, poet Kahlil Gibran writes: It is said that before entering the sea a river trembles with fear. She looks back at the path she has traveled, from the peaks …
Palm Sunday A2023 Matthew 21:1-11 Jesus sent disciples ahead of him to secure the donkey, and word spread quickly. The crowd probably got up early to prepare. To cut branches from palm trees. To gather their friends and family. To …
Lent 5A2023 Ezekiel 37:1-14 The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. Thus begins …
Lent 4A2023 John 9:1-41 Jesus encounters a man born blind. Expressly to reveal God’s work in him, Jesus spits on the ground, makes mud, spreads it on the man’s eyes, and tells him to go wash in the pool of …
Lent 3A2023 John 4:5-42 After walking to Sychar, a city in Samaria, Jesus sits down beside a well, tired out by his journey and, apparently, thirsty. A woman happens to be drawing water at the well, and of course, because …
Transfiguration A2023 Matthew 17:1-9 Six days after Jesus predicts his own crucifixion, death, and resurrection, Jesus leads Peter, James, and John up a high mountain. Jesus, dazzling and glorious, is transfigured before them. Moses and Elijah, prophets long dead, appear …
Epiphany 6A2023 Matthew 5:21-37 When I was 15, my sister and I attended the new years party of our friends who happened to be the sons of the other pastor at our church. (Our dad was one of the pastors, …
Epiphany 5A2023 Matthew 5:13-20 We are probably all aware that the Bible was not written, originally, in English. What language was the Old Testament originally written in? (a little portion in Aramaic too) What about the New Testament? (koine Greek, …
Epiphany 3A2023 Matthew 4:12-23 I’m in this to follow Jesus. Granted, there is something alluring about mystery and ritual and the rhythm of the church seasons. Granted, there is gift in connecting with people of various religious traditions as one …
Epiphany 2A2023 John 1:29-42 Two of John the Baptist’s disciples hear John declare: Look, here is the Lamb of God! Seeing Jesus walk by and hearing John’s words, they follow Jesus. When Jesus turns around and sees them following, he …
Christmas 1A2023 Matthew 2:13-23 Imagine, having just been visited by wise men from the east, Joseph receiving the angel of the Lord in a dream. Imagine Joseph hearing of King Herod’s plan-to kill all children in and around Bethlehem two …
Christmas Day C2022 John 1:1-14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, the first chapter of John tells us. At the very beginning of all things, before Earth and sun, …