Reformation Sunday Isaiah 45:1 Jeremiah 31:31-34; Psalm 46; Romans 3:19-28; John 8:31-36 Christians of Lutheran tradition take a break from the revised common lectionary this Sunday to celebrate the beginning of the Reformation movement when Martin Luther placed his 95 theses on the door of the Wittenberg church in Saxony, Germany, on October 31st, 1517. …
The Word This Sunday – 10.22.23
21st Sunday after Pentecost Isaiah 45:1-7; Psalm 96:1-13; 1 Th. 1:1-10; Matthew 22:15-22 There is way more than what meets the eye when Jesus' is approached by Pharisees and Herodians from Jerusalem who wish to entrap him (Matthew 22:15). Overall, the situation is very tense. It all began in the early verses of chapter 21 …
The Word This Sunday – 10.15.23
20th Sunday after Pentecost Isaiah 25:1-9; Psalm 23; Philippians 4:1-9; Matthew 22:1-14 This Sunday, the revised common lectionary comes to us when the latest armed conflict in the Holy Land brings us horror, anger, anxiety, and sadness. It also brings us the parable of the wedding banquet. This is the third of the parables Jesus …
The Word This Sunday – 10.08.23
19th Sunday after Pentecost Isaiah 5:1-7; Psalm 80:7-15; Philippians 3:4b-14; Matthew 21:33-46 The Wicked Tenants is Matthew's first of back-to-back parables addressing the shortcomings of the people called to advance and accept the kingdom of God. This is the same as the kingdom of heaven come near for us, announced by John the Baptist (Matthew …
The Word this Sunday – 10.01.23
18th Sunday after Pentecost Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32; Psalm 25:1-9; Philippians 2:1-13; Matthew 21:23-32 The Lectionary brings to us this Sunday a challenge to Jesus' authority. The 21st chapter of Matthew begins with the triumphal entry to Jerusalem and the raucous it causes. By the 10th verse, the non-disciples in Jerusalem ask, who is this? Next, …
The Word This Sunday – 09.24.23
17th Sunday after Pentecost Jonah 3:10--4:1; Psalm 145:1-8; Philippians 1:21-30; Matthew 20:1-16 There is profound and uplifting spiritual power in the revelation that God has no pleasure in the death of anyone, even the unrighteous. God wants all his peoples to live (Ezek. 18:32, 33:11). This scriptural reality – brought to us by the lectionary …
The Word This Sunday – 09.10.23
15th Sunday after Pentecost Ezekiel 33:7-11; Psalm 119:33-40; Romans 13:8-14; Matthew 18:15-20 Jesus' promise in Mathew 18:20 provides scriptural evidence to the affirmation that Jesus is present in any space where the Holy Spirit gathers the communion of saints. We can certainly expect his presence not only in times of celebration but also in crisis …
The Word This Sunday – 09.03.23
14th Sunday after Pentecost Jeremiah 15:15-21; Psalm 26:1-8; Romans 12:9-21; Matthew 16:21-28 Last Sunday's recognition from Peter about who Jesus is collides today with his expectation of how Jesus should operate and what Christ was meant to accomplish. I suspect Peter's impulse to oppose the mission of the savior of the world (Matthew 16:22) came …
The Word This Sunday – 08.27.23
13th Sunday after Pentecost Isaiah 51:1-6; Psalm 138; Romans 12:1-8; Matthew 16:13-20 The location from where Peter receives the inspiration to confess who Jesus is matters this Sunday. Jesus brought his disciples to the town of Caesarea Phillipi, an area north of Galilee where Greco-Roman customs blended with those of the Israelites. The town itself …
The Word This Sunday – 08.13.23
11th Sunday after Pentecost 1 Kings 19:9-18; Psalm 85:8-13; Romans 10:5-15; Matthew 14:22-33 The invitation this Sunday is not to come and share in God’s abundant generosity or seek the Christ who offers to provide rest to the weary and those carrying heavy burdens. It is an invitation to come to the waters, but not …
Bridging Faith 