Narrative Lectionary Reflection for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, Year Three, July 9, 2017
This week we finish our summer Psalm series, and we end on a high note—a note of praise and hallelujah. Imagine how much better our world could be if we always ended on a note of praise with a song of joy and thanksgiving on our lips? What if we trusted God enough to offer our praise and thanksgiving no matter what our situation? (Photo: Derek Bridges, Creative Commons)
Sing a Song of Praise
Narrative Lectionary Reflection for the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, Year Three, July 2, 2017
Psalm 30 is a song of praise to the God who constantly lifts us up and who will never leave us. How should we respond? We may sing off-key and dance awkwardly, but our job is to point to the One who holds it all together, to pour out our offering of praise and thanks, to fall down seven and get up eight by the grace of God. How will you sing of God’s goodness this Sunday? How will you proclaim the promise and hope of resurrection in the face of this world’s lies about death and destruction? What song is stuck in your head? (Photo: Noel Pennington, Creative Commons)
A Steward’s Green Pastures
Narrative Lectionary Reflection for the Third Sunday after Pentecost, Year Three, June 25, 2017
Luther likens the 23rd Psalm’s “green pasture” to the church, and the church’s beloved community to the Good Shepherd’s flock. It is easy to overlook the fact that this short psalm of praise is both communal as well as personal. We are stronger in community, and we have the capacity to be better, too. In community, in concert and in contact with God’s word read and proclaimed, and in the bread and wine of Holy Communion, we experience something precious and life-giving. We are strengthened for the journey, our focus is sharpened, and we are reminded of God’s many good gifts. In our life together we affirm our abundance rather than fear our scarcity. (Photo: Katrina L, Creative Commons)
How Long, O Lord?
Narrative Lectionary for the Second Sunday after Pentecost, Year Three, June 18, 2017
To be human is to enter into suffering. He or she who denies that fact is a liar. Our world is broken. Sin and death, although ultimately defeated, are nipping at our heels like worrisome little yapping dogs. Even God’s people behave badly and let us down. This is part of what it means to be human in a fallen world. Thankfully, this is not where we stay after a season of lament. God’s hope is ever-present and real.
Living the Spirit Life
Narrative Lectionary Reflection for Pentecost Sunday, Year Three, June 4, 2017
With the Narrative Lectionary this year we are given choice to focus on a snippet from Acts and a relevant passage from Galatians, or we can choose to highlight the Fruits of the Spirit from Galatians 5. Whatever the choice, even with the Gospel passage, the focus in on the Holy Spirit and how that mysterious, unsettling, and powerful divine presence and force works in the lives of the faithful, goading and cajoling us to speak and live the language of love. (Photo: Waiting for the Word, Creative Commons)
Exponentially One (in Christ)
Narrative Lectionary Reflection for the Seventh Sunday of Easter, Year Three, May 28, 2017
Why is it that we humans always seem to prefer the divide and conquer method in life? I understand that stereotypes–the broad categories we sort folk and situations into—function to keep all the sensory data manageable, but this human tendency also runs quite counter to Jesus’ way of organizing. Instead of division, Jesus was all about multiplication and addition. If only Paul can get this group of folks to believe it and live like it!
Wide Welcome?
Narrative Lectionary for the Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year Three, May 21, 2017
Here we stand at the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, when Martin Luther determined to call the church back to accountability in the gospel, to rid God’s people of extraneous and burdensome practices that he felt ran counter to the teachings of Jesus. Not surprisingly, things changed in both expected and unexpected ways. Also not surprising is the fact that some things haven’t changed after all these years. We still need to clean our lenses to see Jesus clearly and love our neighbors more dearly. (Photo: Jro, Creative Commons)
Stewards of the Church
Narrative Lectionary Reflection for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year Three, May 14, 2017
We Christians are not meant to act in a vacuum. We do better when we find ways to work together and hold one another mutually accountable for what it means to be Christ’s body here on earth (or at least our particular version of it) and how we are called to steward resources and share the Good News. Our governing bodies, confessions, creeds, and constitutions help keep us faithful to God’s word and work in the world—at least when we’re at our best. (Photo: Cary Bass-Deschenes, Creative Commons)
We Love to Tell the Story
Narrative Lectionary Reflection for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year Three, May 7, 2017
Are you ready, really ready, to let God use you and your gifts and talents for the sake of the world? Not everyone is called to be a deacon like Philip or Stephen. Very few of us will experience a radical Damascus road change like Saul. But we can say yes to God’s movement and bidding in our lives, however that might manifest itself. It could mean a change of vocation, responding to a call to serve God in ministry. It might mean learning to share the good news and interpret scripture for coworkers in the office or strangers on the train. Maybe it could be as simple as opening your home to your neighbors for dinner and conversation. Are you ready? (Photo: Creative Commons)
And Now for Something Completely Different
Narrative Lectionary Reflection for the Third Sunday of Easter, Year Three, April 30, 2017
Today we learn that the early church is not as perfect as we sometimes make it out to be. Even the early followers of Jesus had their failures and foibles. The question is what can we learn from this, and how can we continue in faith to live as disciples to the best of our ability for the sake of the gospel. (Photo: Ted, Creative Commons)