For more commentary on this week's readings, see the Reflections on the Lectionary page, which includes Gillespie's current Living by the Word column as well as past magazine and blog content. For full-text access to all articles, subscribe to the Century.

My grandfather was at his 60th class reunion. During a round of golf with three classmates, one of his friends teed off. After hitting the ball, with his club still in the air, the man said, “Gentlemen, you’ll have to excuse me.” Then he fell to the ground, dead.

My grandfather recounted this, adding, “And it was a nice shot.”