This Sunday, the lectionary invites us to ponder Luke 10:38-42. The English Standard Version supplies the passage with the title “Martha and Mary.” J B Philips supplies “… the need for quiet listening to his word.” Have you heard of Bono? His band, U2, wrote and produced the song “Sunday Bloody Sunday.” It was released …
Martha and Mary: Christ on the cross and the stupidity of religious violence Read More »
This Sunday, the lectionary invites us to ponder Luke 10:25-37. Most Bibles supply the passage with the heading “The Parable of the Good Samaritan.” The story is often retold. But the meaning is often lost. This is how most people tell it: It was a dangerous road. Bandits operated on it. One of their victims …
This Sunday, the lectionary invites us to ponder Luke 10:1-11, 16-20. The English Standard Version supplies the verses with the heading “Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two.” Some translations say that Jesus sent out seventy, not seventy-two. According to footnotes in the translations and according to commentaries, the early manuscripts are split evenly between the two …
A normal Christian life is a peace-filled life of tension Read More »
This Sunday, the lectionary invites us to ponder Luke 9:51-62. The English Standard Version presents the reading in two portions. It supplies the first portion with the heading “A Samaritan Village Rejects Jesus,” and the second portion with the heading, “The Cost of Following Jesus.” Last Sunday was Trinity Sunday, and the Sunday before that …
The trajectory of history and the People of the Way Read More »
This Sunday, the lectionary invites us to reflect on John 16:12-15. These four verses lie within verses 16-24, to which the English Standard Version supplies the heading “Your Sorrow Will Turn into Joy.” As I said last week, we’re in the part of John’s gospel in which he gives us highlights from Jesus’ farewell speech. …
Ascesis and the Spirit: Let the chisel perform its office Read More »
This Sunday, we will observe the Day of Pentecost. The lectionary invites us to ponder John 14:8-17, (25-27). In the English Standard Version, those verses fall within sections titled: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (1-14), and “Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit” (15-31). As I said in an earlier post, chapter 14 …
This Sunday, the lectionary invites us to ponder John 14:23-29. The English Standard Version supplies verses 15-31 with the heading “Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit.” As I said last week, in this part of his gospel, John focuses on Jesus’ farewell speech. It’s evening. Jesus has washed the feet of the twelve men whom he’s …
This Sunday churches around the world will celebrate Easter, the Resurrection of Jesus. The lectionary invites us to ponder Luke 24:1-12. The English Standard Version supplies it the heading “The Resurrection.” Pressured by the Jewish leaders, the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, crucified Jesus on a Friday; after ordering his soldiers to brutally flog him. So …
The Empty Tomb: Witnessing the Miracle of Easter Read More »
This Sunday, the lectionary invites us to meditate on Luke 15:1-3 and 11b-32, the parable of the prodigal[1] son. The English Standard Version inserts three headings in the chapter: The Parable of the Lost Sheep, The Parable of the Lost Coin, and The Parable of the Prodigal Son. Jesus told these parables in response to …
The lost older brother in the story of the prodigal son Read More »
This Sunday, the lectionary invites us to ponder Luke 13:31-35. The English Standard Version supplies the heading “Lament over Jerusalem.” The speaking characters are Jesus and some Pharisees. Verse 31 begins with “At that very hour.” Luke begins with these words because he wants us to connect what follows with what Jesus said earlier. What …
Why didn’t Jesus choose Herod to be his executioner? Read More »
