The Adventurous Lectionary: Reflections for May 13, 2012

Last updated on: May 7, 2012 at 5:59 pm By Bruce Epperly

Lectionary Reflections for May 13, 2012 Acts 10:44-48 (context Acts 10:1-23); Psalm 98; I John 5:1-6; John 15:9-17 This Sunday’s readings continue the theme of connection and interdependence. They proclaim a “metaphysics of love” in which love characterizes God’s nature and the behavior of Jesus’ followers. The great commandment, love God and your neighbor, transforms everything we do. While we cannot describe the specifics of love, because love is always highly situational and concrete, a commitment to loving actions and attitudes is at... Read more

The Adventurous Lectionary: Flourishing with God

Last updated on: April 24, 2012 at 12:48 pm By Bruce Epperly

Lectionary Reflections for May 6, 2012 Acts 8:26-40 Psalm 22:25-31 I John 4:7-21 John 15:1-8 Today’s passages call us to adventurous growth and creativity. We are the fruitful agents and companions of a fruitful and lively God. Faithfulness to God invites us to push beyond our comfort zones, claim our agency, and contribute to the fruitfulness of God’s mission. Living God’s mission emerges from our commitments to love boldly and adventurously as we embody the Divine Love that abides in... Read more

The Adventurous Lectionary – Living a Holy Week

Last updated on: March 30, 2012 at 9:43 pm By Bruce Epperly

Holy Week is a lifetime in miniature. It goes from celebration to conflict, betrayal, suspense, and then back to a celebration that lasts a lifetime. As the commercial says, “life comes at you fast,” and so does Holy Week. We almost need a month to let the events of Holy Week sink in spiritually and emotionally. When everything seems to be going well in your life, out of the blue, you or a loved one receives the diagnosis of a... Read more

Adventurous Lectionary – Lent 5 – March 25

Last updated on: March 19, 2012 at 10:51 am By Bruce Epperly

The Fifth Sunday in Lent Jeremiah31:31-34; Psalm 51:1-12; Hebrews 5:5-10; John 12:20-33 With holy week on the horizon, this Sunday’s readings are soul-full in nature. They call us to align ourselves with God’s vision for our lives. God’s vision is not externally imposed but emerges out of the depths of our spirit. The goal of spiritual practices is to align with the dynamic movements of God within and around us. Christ’s spirit constantly speaks and practices enhance our listening and... Read more

The Adventurous Lectionary -Lent 4

Last updated on: March 12, 2012 at 8:13 am By Bruce Epperly

The Fourth Sunday in Lent – March 18, 2012 Numbers 21:4-9; Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22; Ephesians 2:1-10; John 3:14-21 The Fourth Sunday in Lent is theological treasure trove, where the preacher can discover some of the best and worst of Jewish and Christian images of God. All in all, the passages from today’s readings, even those surrounding the hallmark of Christian evangelism, John 3:16, present ambiguous and problematic as well as hopeful and inspiring portrayals of divine intentionality and activity in... Read more

The Adventurous Lectionary – Lent 3

Last updated on: February 27, 2012 at 6:03 pm By Bruce Epperly

The Third Sunday in Lent – March 11, 2012 Exodus 20:1-17; Psalm 19; I Corinthians 1:18-25; John 2:13-22 Last week, my wife and I took our eighteen month old grandson to the planetarium at the Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum. My grandson loves stars and the moon and points them out to me every evening when we’re together. He has the spirit of Psalm 19 – wonder and amazement at the beauty and regularity of the universe – and I hope he... Read more

The Adventurous Lectionary – Lent 2

Last updated on: February 27, 2012 at 6:08 pm By Bruce Epperly

The Adventurous Lectionary – Second Sunday in Lent (March 4, 2012) Readings: Genesis 17:1-7; Psalm 22:23-31; Romans 4:13-25; Mark 8:31-38 Today’s scriptures join sacrifice, simplicity, and solidarity. The solidarity of revelation – which is always energetic and supportive as well as illuminating – enables us to let goof our egos and our claims on the many commodities of life including truth,time, and possessions. In a world in which revelation and inspiration are scarce and limited to a select group, sacrificeand simplicity go... Read more

A Joyful Lent?

Last updated on: February 17, 2012 at 4:14 pm By Deborah Arca

“There is a time and season for everything,” as the wisdom teacher of Ecclesiastes proclaims, and Lent typically has been the time of fasting, rending garments, long faces, abstention, and sobriety. Surely there is plenty of reason to be reflective in recognition of the realities of life on both the micro and macro levels. On the macro level, we must repent our mistreatment of the earth, our addiction to fossil fuels and consumerism, and our temptation to seek vengeance rather... Read more

Ash Wednesday Lectionary Adventure

Last updated on: February 21, 2012 at 10:54 am By Bruce Epperly

Ash Wednesday Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 Psalm 51 (consider amending or eliminating altogether) 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10 Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 Good news on Ash Wednesday? Many people stayaway from Ash Wednesday services because of the ashes, doom, and gloom they identify with the Ash Wednesday message. In their eyes, it’s all about sin and mortality, guilt and punishment, and what good can come from focusing on such issues? But, perhaps, Ash Wednesday is a bit like Lysol; it gets rid of the germs... Read more

From Jesus Candidate to Nation’s Theologian

Last updated on: February 19, 2012 at 1:47 pm By Bruce Epperly

A few months ago Rick Santorum asserted that there is always a need for a “Jesus candidate” and implied that his credentials made him ideal for the position.[1] Yesterday, Santorum challenged President Barack Obama’s Christian beliefs, suggesting that President Obama’s vision of America and Christianity is “not about you. It’s not about your quality of life. It’s not about your jobs. It’s about some phony ideal. Some phony theology. Oh, not a theology based on the Bible. A different theology.”... Read more