The Adventurous Lectionary – Pentecost 14 – August 21, 2016 Jeremiah 1:4-10 Psalm 71:1-6 Hebrews 12:18-29 Luke 13:10-17 This week, we ponder God’s providential love that breaks through every barrier. God is willing to give us more than we can ask or imagine. We need to open our hands to receive the fullness of divine blessing for ourselves and others. God’s word to Jeremiah is addressed to all of us. The young prophet is frightened. The task ahead is too... Read more

The Adventurous Lectionary – The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost – August 14, 2016 Isaiah 5:1-7 Psalm 80:1-2, 8-19 Hebrews 11:29-12:2 Luke 12:49-56 What are we to do with this week’s readings? There is already enough polarization, and these readings seem to fuel the flame. People argue and condemn each other on social media. A handful of Sanders and Clinton people are still going after one another, questioning each other’s loyalty to the cause. Trump supporters go ballistic over any irenic... Read more

The Adventurous Lectionary – The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost – August 7, 2016 Isaiah 1:1, 10-20; Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23; Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16; Luke 12:22-30 God invites us to be the change we want to see in the world. Too often, we have let the world squeeze us into its mold, allowing our imaginations to be stifled by concrete limitations, and our becoming tranquilized by the status quo. God calls us to alternative visions of reality, and challenges us to become... Read more

The Adventurous Lectionary – Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost – July 31, 2016 Hosea 11:1-11 Psalm 107:1-9, 43 Colossians 3:1-11 Luke 12:13-21 In his classic text on the prophets, Abraham Joshua Heschel asserts that the prophet’s passion is energized by her or his vision of the divine pathos. The prophetic God is passionate for justice and God’s passion for justice is grounded in God’s intimate care for the world in all its wondrous messiness. God not only loves humankind, God loves... Read more

The Adventurous Lectionary – Tenth Sunday of Pentecost – July 24, 2016 Hosea 1:2-10 Psalm 85 Colossians 2:6-19 Luke 11:1-19 The lens through which on which I am focusing today is Jesus’ description of God’s relationship with the world found in Luke 11:13: “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” These words point us toward healthy... Read more

The Adventurous Lectionary – The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost – July 17, 2016 Amos 8:1-12, Psalm 52, Colossians 1:15-28, Luke 10:38-42 No doubt you’ve seen the battle of bumper stickers. A popular evangelical bumper sticker proclaims, “Honk, if you love Jesus.” To which a contrasting bumper sticker responds, “If you love Jesus, seek justice. Any fool can honk.” Today’s lectionary readings encourage a holistic spirituality, embracing prayer and protest, study and social involvement, contemplation and creative transformation. Amos would have... Read more

The Adventurous Lectionary – The Eighth Sunday After Pentecost – July 10, 2016 Amos 7:7-17 Psalm 82 Colossians 1:1-14 Luke 10:25-37 In today’s readings, it appears that God has a preferential option for the vulnerable and marginalized, for those we disregard or pass by. God loves everyone, even the oppressor, but God has a special care for the lost and forgotten, for those who are ground into dust by the machinations of business and government. For God, it is never... Read more

The Adventurous Lectionary -The Seventh Sunday in Pentecost – July 3, 2016 2 Kings 5:1-14 Psalm 30 Galatians 6:7-16 Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 The encounter of Elisha and Naaman is at the heart of today’s scriptures. It could be titled, “the healing you need is right in front of you,” or in a lighter vein, “healing for dummies.” Naaman is a great military leader, both respected and feared. Yet, disease has rendered his life miserable. Disease and death are the great... Read more

The Adventurous Lectionary – The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost – June 26, 2016 2 Kings 2:1-4, 6-14; Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20; Galatians 5:1, 13-25; Luke 9:51-62 Today’s readings ask us to launch out in new directions of faithfulness to God. They ask us to believe great things and trust God to work creatively and redemptively in our own freedom. They ask us to live by the spirit and in life-giving, not legalistic or guilt producing ways and to expect great things... Read more

The Adventurous Lectionary – The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost – June 19, 2016 I Kings 19:1-15a Psalm 42 and 43 Galatians 3:23-29 Luke 8:26-39 You are now entering the spiritual twilight zone. The Old Testament and Gospel readings introduce us to the paranormal. Elijah encounters an angelic being and experiences God in sheer silence. Jesus encounters a man possessed by a legion of demons and proceeds not only to communicate with the demons but eventually exorcise them. The readings from... Read more