By the Rev. Micah Krey
Revised Common Lectionary reflection for Proper 28, Year C
November 16, 2025
Key Verse: “Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.” — 2 Thessalonians 3:13
The Lectionary readings for this week carry the weight of endings: temples crumbling, fires burning, and communities shaken. In Luke 21, Jesus’ disciples marvel at the grandeur of the temple, only to hear Jesus respond that “not one stone will be left upon another.” It’s an unsettling reminder that even the most stable institutions and traditions can fall. Yet, Jesus does not tell his followers to despair. He tells them to stay faithful, to testify, and to endure.
In such times, stewardship takes on a quieter, steadier form. It is not about bold building projects or grand campaigns, but about the daily practice of trust and care when the ground beneath us trembles. To “not be weary in doing what is right,” as Paul writes to the Thessalonians, is itself a form of stewardship, a way of tending to the life of faith even in uncertainty.
The Thessalonian community was weary of waiting. Some had stopped working, assuming the end was near. But Paul’s exhortation is not simply about productivity, it’s about responsibility. Faith is not passive waiting but active perseverance. It’s about trusting that God is still working through our faith and our discipleship even in the unknown. Stewardship, then, is the ongoing work of love, justice, and service that continues even when we are tired, uncertain, or afraid.
The prophet Malachi reminds us that the day of the Lord brings both burning and healing. “For you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings.” God’s judgment is not about destruction for its own sake; it is about renewal. Stewardship rooted in this promise becomes an act of hope: tending to what is, while trusting what will be.
And then there is Psalm 98, a hymn of praise that refuses despair. Even in times of upheaval, creation itself bursts into song: the seas roar, the rivers clap their hands, and the hills sing together for joy. This psalm offers a vision of stewardship that joins with creation’s praise. When we live faithfully, caring for one another, for the earth, for the church, we participate in this cosmic chorus of renewal.
These readings invite preachers and congregations to remember that faithful stewardship is not measured by the size of our sanctuaries or the security of our institutions, but by the persistence of our witness. When the world feels like it’s falling apart, we keep showing up. We keep feeding the hungry, praying for peace, caring for the earth, and working for justice. That’s what endurance looks like in the reign of God.
Faithful stewardship is not panic, it is persistence. It is choosing trust over our fear, compassion over cynicism, and hope over despair. In doing so, we bear witness to the God who promises that even through fire and rubble, healing and redemption are already dawning.
In Worship
This Sunday’s worship can carry a theme of endurance and hope. Use songs that acknowledge both struggle and steadfast faith, such as: “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less,” “When Peace Like a River,” or “O God, Our Help in Ages Past.” The prayers of intercession might name the instability of our times (war, climate anxiety, natural disaster, political division) and ask for strength to “not grow weary in doing what is right.”
As a ritual act, consider pouring water, drop by drop, into a large bowl or baptismal font during the prayers. Each drop represents an act of faithfulness (a prayer spoken, an advocacy letter written, a hope held). Over time, the bowl fills, showing how persistence, even in small acts, transforms emptiness into abundance. Conclude by reading or singing Psalm 98 as a declaration that creation, too, endures and joins in God’s renewal.
Worship with Youth
Youth often feel the tension of a world that seems uncertain better than many adults. Explore the idea of “keeping steady” through conversation or art. Ask: “What helps you stay hopeful when things feel shaky?” or “Where do you see God bringing healing?” Connect their answers to Malachi’s image of the “sun of righteousness” rising with healing. Create a “hope board” where they can write or draw signs of resilience they see in the world (people helping, nature recovering, communities rebuilding). Encourage youth to see small, faithful acts (checking on a friend, standing up for fairness, caring for creation) as ways of “doing what is right” even when times are tough.
Worship with Children
Children can learn about faithfulness through simple, steady actions. Begin by asking: “What’s something you do every day that helps someone?” or “What helps you keep going when something is hard?”
Paul tells the church, “Do not be weary in doing what is right.” Sometimes doing the right thing—like being kind, sharing, or helping—can feel small or unnoticed, but Paul reminds us that each act matters. Doing what is right, again and again, helps build God’s love in the world.
Invite the children to share ideas for “good things we can keep doing,” then create a “steadfast steps” path by laying paper footprints down the aisle or around the worship space. Each footprint can show one way to keep doing good (“helping a friend,” “saying thank you,” “caring for the earth.”) Remind them that every faithful step, no matter how small, helps the whole church walk in God’s love. Then place the footprints in a path that leads to a visible sign of assurance (perhaps the baptismal font, the altar, or a cross). As they lay each footprint, remind them: God walks with us every step of the way. When the path is complete, sing or share a short refrain of thanksgiving for God’s steadfast love.
Previous reflections for Proper 28, Year C:
2019 – Burning down the house
2016 – ‘Edgy’ stewardship for troubling times
2013 – Why perseverance matters
2010 – Meantime in the mean times
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