A drop of grace

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

Preachers and teachers are really missing those summer days when we got to preach on wonderful parables about mustard seeds and loaves of yeast bread. Now it's judgment-parable season, and many of us wish we were on vacation.

I believe that difficult texts should not be read in the midst of worship and then flatly avoided in the preaching. Paul's words from Philippians are marvelous with their call to "Rejoice in the Lord always," to "not worry about anything," but in many of our congregations this reading will be followed immediately by a very difficult parable from Matthew.