Living the Lectionary

Mark 4:35-41 It was Jesus’ idea to sail across the lake but it was the disciples who took him in the boat “just as he was.” It’s an odd thin...

2 Corinthians 6:1-13 If the contentious Corinthians were not the proverbial “thorn” in Paul’s flesh they were certainly a pain in the you kn...

  Psalm 107:1-3 ,  23-32 Psalm 107 is a long song that details the troubles the people of God get into when they rebel against God’s command...

Job 38:1-11 After 37 chapters Job finally gets his day in the celestial court, although after God’s opening argument Job surrenders and cops...

Mark 4:26-34 I think explaining a parable is like repeating the punch line of a joke and asking “get it?” It never works quite as well becau...

2 Corinthians 5:6-17 Before you get overly concerned (and therefore less than confident) with “all of us must appear before the judgment sea...

Psalm 92:1-4;   12-15 Psalm 92 is listed as a song for the Sabbath day but it is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord every day, morning,...

  Ezekiel 17:22-24 The prophet Ezekiel imagines the Lord as the One who provides shade and shelter and sustenance for all creatures great an...

Mark 3:20-35 So much for family values! It is clear from the scriptures that Jesus raised a ruckus, and people have been trying to quiet him...

2 Corinthians 4 13 – 5:1 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 is found in the occasional services book and suggested for use in times of illness or when on...

Psalm 130 I’ve kept watch for more than one morning and as you might know the coming day is always too slow to dawn. That is the nature of w...

Genesis 3:8-15 The story of our beginning does not have to be literally true to tell the truth about us. We, like our first parents, would n...

John 3:1-17 The truth of “God so loved the world…” is diminished if we add conditional clauses that limit the ability of the wind of the Spi...

Romans 8:12-17 I will admit I’m in hock to the flesh and cannot conceive a payment plan that will get me out of debt anytime soon. Based on ...

Psalm 29 Hills skipping and mountains bucking are not that pleasant when one is in close proximity. In the same way we prefer our forests le...

Isaiah 6:1-8 The call story of the prophet Isaiah is filled with fanciful details that defy explanation. The hem of the Lord “high and lifte...

John 16:1-15 The Spirit as Advocate contends for us to prove the world’s ways will not be the way for us. That is because the Spirit convict...

Romans 8:22-27 When inward groaning anticipates the cry of new birth the joy anticipated is the hope that endures. In our weakness, when con...

Psalm 104:24-35 Psalm 104:20 is the basis of the “Come Holy Spirit” prayer of the Cursillo movement. “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of ...

Acts 2:1-21 It is a lay lector’s nightmare lesson and even those who wear the collar tread lightly in the linguistic territory of “Phrygia a...