Lectionary Reflections: Second Sunday After Pentecost June 10, 2012 I Samuel 8:4-15; 11:14-15; Psalm 138; 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1; Mark 3:20-35 Today’s lectionary readings integrate concerns for just leadership, alignment with divine law, and the extent of grace in transforming our lives.  Despite the reality of human freedom, creativity, and God forgetfulness, God’s power is all-embracing in its relationality and constancy.   Unlike “Satan,” God does not dominate or coerce but lures us in our current life-situation toward lively, abundant, faithful, and... Read more

Lectionary Reflections for Trinity Sunday, June 3, 2012 Isaiah 6:1-8; Psalm 29; Romans 8:12-17; John 3:1-17 For the third Sunday in a row, we are reflecting on some of the most challenging and provocative themes in Christian experience – the Ascension of Jesus, Pentecost, and now the Holy Trinity.  The Trinity is only an occasional theme in progressive and moderate Christian preaching.  Indeed, most progressives tend toward a type of Unitarianism that focuses on the unity of God with only modest attention to... Read more

Reflections on Pentecost Sunday Acts 2:1-21 Psalm 104:24-34, 35b Romans 8:22-27 John 15:26-27; 16:4-15 Pentecost Sunday celebrates the many and varied expressions of God’s love and wisdom.  The divine dancer moves through all creation bringing forth life and love and inspiration.  Fire and wind are everywhere. Inspiration and revelation are just a moment away and can come either by surprise or as a result of the interplay of God’s wisdom and our intentional spiritual practices.  The spirit blows where it... Read more

Lectionary Reflections for Ascension Sunday, May 20, 2012 Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 (include Acts 1:6-14): Psalm 1: I John 5:9-13: John 17:6-19 Today’s passages are an invitation to experience the intimacy of God in our daily tasks.  Our vocations emerge from our encounters in this world and are fulfilled in following God’s way in our lives.  We don’t need to long for a far off heaven when the whole earth is filled with divine glory and wisdom. For the second week in a row,... Read more

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

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

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

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 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