In the Lectionary
March 22, Lent 4A (John 9:1–41)
Keep going, says John.
March 15, Lent 3A (John 4:5–42)
Rethinking the woman at the well
March 8, Lent 2A (John 3:1–17)
Like Nicodemus, Kanye shows that the Spirit blows where it chooses.
March 1, Lent 1A (Matthew 4:1–11)
The devil is testing Jesus. Jesus is also testing the devil.
February 26, Ash Wednesday (Matthew 6:1–6, 16–21)
Every year, we repeat this dusty choreography.
February 23, Transfiguration A (Matthew 17:1–9)
God’s presence transfigures here, now, in the familiar.
February 16, Epiphany 6A (Matthew 5:21–37, Deuteronomy 30:15–20)
Idolatry is the desire to manipulate God.
February 9, Epiphany 5A (Isaiah 58:1–12; Psalm 112:1–10; 1 Corinthians 2:1–16; Matthew 5:13–20)
Putting flesh on the bones of justice
February 2, Epiphany 4A (Matthew 5:1–12; Micah 6:1–8; 1 Corinthians 1:18–31)
Matthew’s Beatitudes are meant to give comfort, not to challenge.
January 26, Epiphany 3A (Matthew 4:12–23)
Jesus’ call is less about what we leave behind than our eager response to follow him as everyday people.
January 19, Epiphany 2A (John 1:29–42)
What do we do when we read a story where the ending is already known?
January 12, Baptism of the Lord (Matthew 3:13–17)
Jesus knows he’s part of a history, a people’s longing and dreams.
January 6, Epiphany of the Lord (Matthew 2:1–12)
Genealogies suggest a beautiful inevitability even amid political impossibility.
December 29, Christmas 1A (Matthew 2:13–23)
Matthew connects Jesus to the overarching narrative of the Jewish people—as well as to the smaller story of Matthew’s immediate community.
December 24 and 25, Nativity (Isaiah 9:2–7; Luke 2:1–20)
Preachers who value their pulpit would be wise to avoid Isaiah 9 this Christmas Eve.
December 22, Advent 4A (Matthew 1:18–25; Isaiah 7:10–16; Romans 1:1–7)
In Luke, Mary says that she’s a virgin. Do I believe her?
December 15, Advent 3A (Matthew 11:2–11; Psalm 146:5–10; James 5:7–10)
In his response to John, Jesus speaks of hope in the present tense.
December 8, Advent 2A (Matthew 3:1–12)
In the stitched-together story of Advent, we wrestle with each other’s certainties.
December 1, Advent 1A (Matthew 24:36–44; Romans 13:11–14)
It’s troubling to imagine the Son of man arriving with criminal intent.
November 24, Reign of Christ C (Jeremiah 23:1-6; Luke 23:33-43)
The unfaithful shepherd sniffs out and stirs up fear, fragmenting communities.