Living the Lectionary

Matthew 14:13-21 “When Jesus heard this he withdrew to a lonely place…” What Jesus heard was that his cousin John had been beheaded by Her...

Matthew 13:31-33 ,  44-52 Despite the disciple’s “Yes” what we understand about “all these things” is that we don’t really understand the ...

  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...

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

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...

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 ...

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, without ...

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...