In the Lectionary
June 7, Ordinary 10A (Genesis 12:1–9)
All of the narrative details in the call of Abram story reinforce a single point: God commands Abram to go, and Abram goes.
May 31, Trinity A (Matthew 28:16–20)
Before the Great Commission is proclaimed, Matthew could be accused of being a unitarian.
May 24, Pentecost A (Acts 2:1–21; 1 Corinthians 12:3b–13)
Have you ever tried to watch the wind? Good luck.
May 17, Easter 7A (John 17:1–11)
I want God to keep us safe. Jesus wants to make us one.
May 14, Ascension (Luke 24:44–53)
Too many of us have not had ears to hear. Our marketing materials have been too slick.
May 10, Easter 6A (John 14:15–21; 1 Peter 3:13–22)
Blessed are the poor, in ways that make no earthly sense.
May 3, Easter 5A, (1 Peter 2:2–10; John 14:1–14)
The soul is not a tiny gem or a needle in a haystack, hidden away or easily crushed.
April 26 Easter 4A (John 10:1–10)
Animals know kindness from cruelty—even sheep, who are not the sharpest tools in the shed.
April 19, Easter 3 (Luke 24:13–35)
I don’t know where Jesus is heading when he encounters the two companions on the road, but it seems like maybe he never does get there.
April 12, Easter 2A (Acts 2:14a, 22–32; Psalm 16; John 20:19–31)
Some resurrection stories carry wounds we must not ignore.
April 5, Easter 1A (Jeremiah 31:1–6; Matthew 28:1–10)
In six short verses, Jeremiah makes sermon illustrations of three different exile stories.
April 3, Good Friday (John 18:1–19:42)
Jesus is crucified while the world goes on as usual.
April 2, Maundy Thursday (Exodus 12:1–14; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26; John 13:1-17, 31b–35)
Overcoming the reluctance to be served requires something that looks and feels a lot like faith.
March 29, Palm Sunday A (Matthew 21:1–11)
We parade into our worship spaces singing “Hosanna,” only to realize we’ve been following Jesus’ hearse.
March 29, Passion Sunday A (Matthew 26:14–27:66)
Matthew’s Passion doesn’t show us Jesus’ reactions. We just see his pain and hear his silence.
March 22, Lent 5A (Ezekiel 37:1–14; John 11:1–45)
Dry bones don’t resurrect themselves.
March 15, Lent 4A (Psalm 23; John 9:1–41)
Psalm 23 isn’t just a song of comfort and consolation. It’s also about heroism and the world set to rights.
March 8, Lent 3A (John 4:5–42)
Jesus’ opening approach to the woman at the well is one that confesses his own need.
March 1, Lent 2A (John 3:1–17)
Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night because all new life begins in the dark.
February 22, Lent 1A (Matthew 4:1–11)
This is Jesus’ story, after all, and not ours. Unless it is.