In the Lectionary
Reflections on the Revised Common Lectionary readings by preachers, writers, and biblical scholars
October 11, Ordinary 28A (Matthew 22:1–14)
Matthew’s version of the wedding banquet parable is unsettling. There is no second chance, no forgiveness.
October 4, Ordinary 27A (Psalm 19)
The star-spangled skies, when I can see them, tell me of the glory of God.
September 27, Ordinary 26A (Exodus 17:1–7; Psalm 78:1–4, 12–16)
God’s people are in the desert by design, and the desert is, by design, dry.
September 20, Ordinary 25A (Matthew 20:1–16)
A day’s wage for a day’s work? There is no such thing in a farm family.
September 13, Ordinary 24A (Exodus 14:19–31; Psalm 114)
Sometimes God changes history by moving oceans, sometimes by making the wheels fall off.
September 6, Ordinary 23A (Matthew 18:15–20)
Jesus is not handing the church a timeless conflict resolution manual, however much we might long for one.
September 1, Creation in Christ A (Genesis 1:1−2:3 or Genesis 2:4−25; Psalm 148:1−14; Acts 17:22a, 24−28; John 1:1−5)
There is nothing in us that is not also in earth, sun, stars, and everything composed of matter.
August 30, Ordinary 22A (Exodus 3:1–15)
For anger to fuel hope, it needs to be a fire that burns but doesn’t consume.
August 23, Ordinary 21A (Romans 12:1–8)
I wish Paul also exhorted us not to think too poorly of ourselves.
August 16, Ordinary 20A (Genesis 45:1–15)
Joseph’s actions and emotions seem to be a muddled mess of revenge and grief.
August 9, Ordinary 19A (Genesis 37:1–4, 12–28)
How did Joseph’s brothers get from sibling rivalry to a murder plot?
August 2, Ordinary 18A (Genesis 32:22–31)
Those of us who wrestle with God have no guarantee that things will turn out well.
July 26, Ordinary 17A (Romans 8:26–39)
The Spirit is always seeking to pray on our behalf. Why didn’t anyone tell me this in seminary?
July 19, Ordinary 16A (Genesis 28:10–19a)
We all want to be Jacob, it seems, tagging the places we have been.
July 12, Ordinary 15A (Genesis 25:19–34)
This guy Jacob is diabolical.
July 5, Ordinary 14A (Romans 7:15–25a)
Paul may be the originator of the idea of an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other.