The need to blame

For more commentary on this week's readings, see the Reflections on the Lectionary page, which includes Modahl'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.

I begin sermon preparation by reading through the texts and writing a 200-word summary of the themes I observe in that initial reading. I include this summary in an online publication for the congregation I serve. It's called "Sunday is Coming," a title with an edge for the preacher.

When I do this reading I I look for trouble—for the obvious, palpable problems in the text. In this week's Ezekiel reading, the people accuse God of being unfair. They shift the blame for their sin to their parents. In the Gospel, the chief priests and elders attempt to trap Jesus. Either way he answers their question, they will be able to find fault with him. Jesus in turn asks them a question. Their answer, “We don’t know,” reveals that they are people who wish to be blameless even at the price of playing dumb.