In the Parish

Readings: Isaiah 52:13-53:12 John 18:1-19:42 On Good Friday, the meaning of Christ's death takes the fore.  His suffering and death show the extent to which God will go to reconcile us to him.

Readings: 1 Corinthians 11:17-32 John 13: 1-17, 31b-35 On Maundy Thursday, we remember the institution of the Eucharist as well as Jesus washing the disciples' feet.  As Christ pours out his life for our sake, so we too are called to pour out ourselves on behalf of others.

Readings: Isaiah 50:4-9a Psalm31:9-16 Philippians 2:5-11 Luke 19:28-40 (from the Procession with Palms Liturgy) Luke 22:14-23:56 Luke has continually pointed throughout his gospel to a coming upheaval in the world, poor being lifted up and the mighty being cast down from their thrones.  Jesus' entry into Jerusalem is the procession to his coronation as king.  Like Jehu in 2Kings, Jesus will seek to overthrow the foreign occupying power, but it not be the earthly power of Rome, but the power of sin that Jesus will unseat.

Readings: Isaiah 43:16-21 Psalm 126 Philippians 3:4b-14 John 12:1-8 In the aftermath of the grandest of signs, raising Lazarus from the dead, a seemingly inconsequential act, anointing Jesus' feet with costly perfume, becomes the straw that breaks the camel's back.  Mary's act of devotion seals the deal.  There is no going back.  The world cannot stop it.

Readings: Joshua 5:9-12 Psalm 32 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 The fourth Sunday in Lent offers us a little reprieve from the constant refrain of "Repent!" heard throughout the rest of Lent.  We hear today the misnamed parable of the Prodigal Son.  Others have tried to rename this parable the parable of the loving father, since it is primarily a parable about the father, not either of the sons.  I argue that the son's sinful prodigal (that is, foolishly extravagant) activities are answered by a welcome that is equally as prodigal, but rooted in evangelical compassion.  This is the parable of the Prodigal God.

Reading: Isaiah 55:1-9 Psalm 63:1-8 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 Luke 13:1-9 The Lenten call to "Repent!" continues.  But in a parable to his followers, Jesus tells of the mercy extended in the invitation to repentance.

Readings: Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 Psalm 27 Philippians 3:17-4:1 Luke 13:31-35

Readings Deuteronomy 26:1-11 Psalm 91 Romans 10:8b-13 Luke 4:1-13

Readings: Isaiah 53:4-12 Psalm 91:9-16 Hebrews 5:1-10 Mark 10:35-45 Isaiah tells of a suffering servant, punished in such a way that even the gentiles see his conviction as a perversion of justice.  God illumines our eyes to see the reality of death, particularly when the innocent die, and most clearly focused in the death of Jesus Christ.  Jesus' death strips away any illusions we might have surrounding death and its natural place in the world.

Readings: Amos 5:6-7, 10-12 Psalm 22 Hebrews 4:12-16 Mark 10:17-31 A rich man is distraught when Jesus lays the reality of his idolatry before him.  Jesus' words condemn not only rich folks, but all of us as we all focus on things that keep us from a proper relationship with God.  Jesus reminds us that it is God who ultimately saves us and not ourselves.