In the Lectionary
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.
November 17, Ordinary 33C (Luke 21:5-19)
Jesus’ hearers are well-acquainted with calamity and crisis.
November 10, Ordinary 32C (Luke 20:27–38)
Resurrection is where God is—across generations, across circumstances.
November 1, All Saints Day (Luke 6:20–31)
Jesus mourns a human existence unconcerned with the needs of the whole.
October 27, Ordinary 30C (Luke 18:9-14)
Jesus' characters aren't nuanced; they're all elbows and ankles.
October 20, Ordinary 29C (Luke 18:1-8)
Injustice comes with so many alibis and aliases.
October 13, Ordinary 28C (Luke 17:11–19)
Maybe the lepers know that Jesus likes being in the borderland.
October 6, Ordinary 27C (Luke 17:5-10)
Have you noticed God’s preference for small things?
September 29, Ordinary 26C (Luke 16:19–31; Amos 6:1a, 4–7)
Conversion narratives raise a question: Why does it take so much to get there?
September 22, Ordinary 25C (Luke 16:1–13; Amos 8:4–7)
Jesus is talking to two different audiences.
September 15, Ordinary 24C (Luke 15:1-10)
Not everything that’s lost can be found.
September 8, Ordinary 23C (Luke 14:25-33)
Jesus isn’t known for being on the winning side. His constant mantra is come and die.
September 1, Ordinary 22C (Proverbs 25:6-7; Luke 14:1, 7-14)
Jesus and Maimonides are drinking from the same well: the book of Proverbs.
August 25, Ordinary 21C (Isaiah 58:9b-14)
So much of human religiosity comes down to a hoax we perpetrate on God.
August 18, Ordinary 20C (Luke 12:49-56; Jeremiah 23:23-29)
We preach the gospel of peace and justice. Are there divides between our words and actions?