Authors /
Audrey West
Audrey West teaches New Testament at the Moravian Theological Seminary in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Another kind of gate (Luke 16:19-31)
The rich man’s approach to Lazarus could have been different.
September 25, Ordinary 26C (Luke 16:19–31)
God keeps sending the message that there’s a better way.
Turning understanding on its head (Luke 16:1-13)
The inability to make sense of the parable of the unjust manager allows us to experience confusion similar to those first students of Jesus.
September 18, Ordinary 25C (Jeremiah 8:18–9:1)
Jeremiah has to learn to name the reality that is right in front of him.
Human finitude (30A; Deuteronomy 34:1-12; Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8)
It’s really tough to value the gifts inherent in finitude when beloved ones are dying.
Jesus reframes the question (Matthew 22:15-22; 29A)
The Herodians' topic of choice could have been plucked from the moderator's cue cards in a presidential debate.
Lamb and shepherd (Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24; Matthew 25:31-46)
I once cared for a sick and vulnerable lamb.
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Hope in the face of death (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:1-13)
Everybody dies. My mother-in-law intended to be ready.
November 26, Reign of Christ A (Matthew 25:31-46)
The criteria for separating sheep from goats do not include a confession of faith.
Better, not more
The lectionary has focused our attention on bread for a very long time. One might think that five barley loaves transformed into a feast plus baskets full of leftovers would be news enough, but Jesus goes on to talk about the bread for another 36 verses. He would be a dream interview for today's 24-hour news shows, with their incessant need for commentary on the latest attention-grabbing headline.
Sunday, August 19, 2012: John 6:51-58
Perhaps we should not be too hard on the people who ate their fill on the mountain and chased Jesus down on the other side.