Week 5 (Year 3, NL)

James calls Abraham a “friend of God.” In this week’s reading from Exodus, Moses presumes upon a similar divine friendship to offer God advice.

When Jeanne Bishop learned of her sister's murder, she found herself saying aloud, "I don't want to hate anybody."

The story of the golden calf is a parody of Israelite idolatry.

This week my Century lectionary column focused on the text from Luke. Here are several threads I found useful but could not weave into the final piece.

We are instructed to love our enemies—not necessarily to forgive them.

Exodus 32 is too monumental not to mention. And while the lectionary assigns 32:7–14, it’s important to include verses 1–6 as well.

I suggest we stop calling this text the “golden calf” incident and begin calling it the “God changes God’s mind at the request of Moses” incident.

When the church I serve undertook a strategic planning process, there was more golden calf than fiery pillar. But while we planned, God summoned.

A few years ago when Tomas wrecked a car, the police didn't care about his immigration status. But times have changed.