The Adventurous Lectionary – The Seventh Sunday of Easter – May 8, 2016 Acts 16:16-34 Psalm 97 Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21 John 17:20-26 As I read the story of Paul and Silas singing and praying in prison, I am reminded of the traditional hymn “How Can I Keep From Singing.” My life flows on in endless song; Above earth’s lamentation, I hear the sweet, tho’ far-off hymn That hails a new creation; Thro’ all the tumult and the strife I... Read more
The Adventurous Lectionary – The Sixth Sunday of Easter – May 1, 2016 Acts 16:9-15; Psalm 67; Revelation 21:10; 21:22-22:5; John 5:1-9 Today’s readings join vision, spiritual transformation, and healing, and call persons to become everyday mystics. When we respond to God’s visions for us, we claim God’s healing touch and bring healing to ourselves and our communities. The reading from Acts describes Paul’s venture to Macedonia and the founding of the Philippian church. It begins with a visionary experience... Read more
The Adventurous Lectionary – The Fifth Sunday of Easter – April 24, 2016 Acts 11:1-18 Psalm 148 Revelation 21:1-6 John 13:31-35 On Earth Day Weekend, the adventurous preacher would do well to reflect on the widest images of divine revelation. Often our faith has been parochial, xenophobic, and anthropocentric. We privilege our brand of spirituality and ecclesiology, our culture, ethnicity, or species, assuming that it is the fullest expression of divine wisdom and handiwork, when, in fact, God is generous... Read more
The Adventurous Lectionary – The Fourth Sunday of Easter – April 17, 2016 Acts 9:36-43 Psalm 23 Revelation 7:9-17 John 10:22-30 What gives us the power to confront the inevitable and necessary losses and challenges of life? What enables us to go through the valley of the shadow of death, when there is no way around it and to live with our fear and terror – or panic and anxiety – knowing that God has the final word and that... Read more
This post is part of a conversation on the new book Honestly: Getting Real About Jesus and Our Messy Lives, by Daniel Fusco, at the Patheos Book Club here. Elizabeth Kubler Ross once said “I’m not ok. You’re not ok. But, it’s ok.” In a similar vein, a Jewish proverb notes that everyone should have a note in each pocket. The first says, “For you the universe was made.” The second, “You are dust and to dust you shall return.”... Read more
The Adventurous Lectionary – The Third Sunday of Easter – April 10, 2016 Acts 9:1-20 Psalm 30 Revelation 5:11-14 John 21:1-19 How many sermons can you get out of one week’s lectionary readings? Today’s lectionary readings, all have a mystical air, but they express the mystic vision in a variety of ways – revelation and transformation, angelic praise, and ethics and spirituality. If you are able, read the totality of the lectionary recommendation for Acts of the Apostles, all twenty... Read more
The Adventurous Lectionary – Second Sunday of Easter – April 3, 2016 Acts 5:22-27; Psalm 150; Revelation 1:4-8; John 20:19-31 Let the Easter celebrations continue! Resurrection is a present and future as well as past reality. Christ the Lord is risen today, and every day! Resurrection is just a breath away! Psalm 150 describes a world of praise. We can dance and sing, play drums and tambourines, hire a piper, and even a synthesizer and orchestra! But, not just us,... Read more
The Adventurous Lectionary – Easter Sunday – March 27, 2016 Acts 10:34-43 Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 I Corinthians 15:19-26 John 20:1-18 This is the day that God has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it! This is the heart of the Easter proclamation – God has made this new day, this wonderful life-giving day and rejoicing is the only appropriate response. God’s doing a new thing, the divine creativity brings forth new life with every new day, and that... Read more
[The post is part of a conversation on the new book The Power of the Cross, now featured at the Patheos Book Club.] I am appreciative of Tony Evans’ meditation on the cross of Jesus. His approach is clear and represents one of many possible pictures of the saving grace of God’s suffering love. The cross is a source of confidence and power, embodying the hope of Christmas’ “Emmanuel,” the affirmation that God is with us, giving us everything we... Read more
(This post is part of the Patheos Book Club on Dear Pope Francis: The Pope Answers Questions from Children Around the World.) One of my favorite scriptures is Mark 10:13-16: Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the... Read more
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