Living the Lectionary

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 aware...

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 wo...

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 th...

Matthew 10:24-39 The less than gentle words of Jesus – whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me… are tempere...

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 of de...

Psalm 89 Psalm 89 is a love song to the Lord written by Ethan the Ezrahite, a cymbal player in Solomon’s temple band. But his hymn of rejo...

                                   Jeremiah 28:5-9 Jeremiah’s “Amen!” should be read as an “Oh really?” because the weeping prophet ...

Matthew 28:16-20 I wonder how many disciples who “worshiped him” were included in the “some doubted” list. Since “some” is more than a cou...

Genesis 1:1-2:4 “In the beginning God created…” seems to divide the Trinity by function, the Father calling forth Creation while the Son...

John 20:19-23 John’s Pentecost arrives with less fanfare than Luke’s but perhaps with greater weight. No rushing wind, no tongues of fire,...

1 Corinthians 12:3-13 Spiritual gifts are given for the common good even if the Corinthians, puffed up with pride, can’t see the common go...

Psalm 104:24-34 What might it mean that the Leviathan, formed to folic, is terrified despite its size when “you hide your face?” The psalm...

Acts 2:1-21 Peter denies being drunk based on the hour of the day but when it comes to the Holy Spirit it’s always noon somewhere. Luthera...

John 17:1-11 It is a shame we haven’t lived the prayer of Jesus, “so that they may be one” in a way the world can see. Instead the church ...

1 Peter 4:12-14   5:6-11 In the middle of these passages about fiery ordeals, insults and roaring lions on the prowl is the passage that m...

Acts 1:6-14 I am comforted by the thought of an eternal future where finally free of all that diminishes life we will live fully into the ...

John 14:15-21 I’m hoping “if you love me, you will keep my commandments” is based on a sliding scale otherwise most of us are toast. And o...

1 Peter 3:13-22 Baptism, which Peter calls an appeal to God for a good conscience, has been the source of division in the church even thou...

Psalm 66:8-20 This is a “Praise the Lord” psalm that remembers times of trouble. But not just any trouble, like waking up to a hot wate...

Acts 17:22-31 A statue to an unknown god presented Paul with an opportunity to proclaim to the “extremely religious” Athenians the God “i...