Living the Lectionary

Romans 8:26-39 “All things work together for good” is a bold statement in light of the laundry list of laments that follows. Hardship, d...

Psalm 119:126-139 I think the psalmist weeps because the nature of God’s statues is not understood. They are not meant to be burdensome...

1 Kings 3:5-12 It is a smart prayer for a boy who doesn’t know how to come or go. One wonders how he thought to pray it. You would expec...

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 The first hearers of this word were no doubt encouraged by it. Justice will be done and love wins as good will t...

Romans 8:12-25 The sufferings of the present may not be worth comparing with the glory of the future but when “subjected to futility we ...

Psalm 86:11-7 The psalmist looks to the Lord, gracious and full of compassion, in the face of violent people intent on doing bodily harm...

Isaiah 44:1-8 The God of Israel is throwing it down in the deity ring. The first, the last, "there is no other like me" is lay...

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 Good soil does not happen by itself and even without the effort of cultivation is the result of flood or glacier ...

Romans 8:1-11 “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” even when those who are in Christ Jesus continue to set ...

Psalm 65 “When deeds of iniquity overwhelm us…” we look to the Lord to forgive our transgressions and “save us from weak resignation to ...

Isaiah 55:10-13 Isaiah 55 begins with a word that goes out from the Lord’s mouth as an invitation to the thirsty to come and buy  food a...

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 Even John who “came neither eating nor drinking” wondered about his cousin Jesus, “Are you the one who is to com...

Romans 7:13-25 Ignorance is bliss and if not for the law we would be blissfully ignorant of sin. As it is the law makes us painfully awa...

Psalm 145:8-14 If all of the Lord’s works praised and the faithful ones blessed and those who fell down looked to be lifted up the Lord ...

Zechariah 9:9-12 On the day that Jesus rode Zechariah’s vision into Jerusalem the daughters of Zion shouted “Hosanna!” and for a moment t...

John 21:15-19 Jesus relentless questioning might seem harsh to our ears but Peter’s threefold “I love you” was meant to make up for his ...

Matthew 10:37-42 Ok. Truth to be told I love my parents and children as much as I love Jesus which would seem to make me more worthy of ...

James Brown - "the hardest working man in show business" 1 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18 I imagine we would all like to make this cla...

Romans 6:12-23 The “therefore” of Romans 6:12 is made possible by the new relationship with God that begins with death. Not the kind o...

Psalm 34 In his letter to the Corinthians Paul details the hardships he endured for the sake of the Gospel – beatings, imprisonment, s...