In the Parish

19th Sunday after Pentecost -- Commanded to Love

Reading: Matthew 22:34-46 Jesus faces his final challenge from religious authorities before his death.  Here Jesus gives his summation of the Law.  Love God and love neighbor.  The whole law and prophets hang on the commandment to love.

18th Sunday after Pentecost -- Death and Taxes

Reading: Matthew 22:15-23 Jesus is tested by religious leaders regarding paying taxes to Rome.  Jesus does not answer their question but reframes the debate, looking at God's sovereignty over the world instead.  Ultimately Jesus fulfills both sides of his clever statement "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's." I am indebted to my colleague and former classmate Matt Musteric for the emphasis on the passion.

17th Sunday after Pentecost -- Saying Something While Saying Something Else

Reading: Matthew 22:1-14 Jesus concludes his answer to the religious leaders who had asked him "By what authority are you doing these things and who gave that authority to you?"  Jesus' parable are saying something about him, the religious authorities and the Kingdom, all while saying something else.

16th Sunday after Pentecost -- Commitment and Relationship

Reading: Philippians 3:4b-14 Paul lifts up his incredible achievements as a Jewish man, but realizes that they are nothing when compared to Christ's actions claiming him.

15th Sunday after Pentecost -- Fathers and Sons

Readings: Ezekiel18:1-4, 25-32 Matthew 21:23-32 Both texts have elements of fathers and sons.  Ezekiel's text addresses the notion that the sins of the father are visited upon the son.  God declares that each person will be judged as an individual.

14th Sunday after Pentecost -- Jonah

Reading: Jonah 3:10-4:11 After finally arriving at Nineveh, Jonah reluctantly delivers the judgment against that great city.  But when God shows mercy on Nineveh, Jonah is angry enough to die.  God's mercy can be scandalous when it gets extended even to our enemies.

Pentecost 13A -- 9-11 and Forgiveness

Reading: Matthew 18:21-35 Peter asks about frequency of forgiveness and Jesus tells a parable of an Unforgiving Servant that speaks of God's forgiveness of us and our subsequent response.  We are called to forgive others, but that is no mere feat.  It is hard work, but a work we must engage in to refuse sin the last word.

Pentecost 10A -- Sacrifice

Reading: Romans 12:1-8 After laying a theological foundation that re-orients the identity of God's people, Paul turns to the living out of that identity.  Paul uses the language of sacrifice but turns it so that it is rooted in the life of Christ rather than death.

Pentecost 9A -- Table Manners

Reading: Matthew 15:21-28 Jesus encounters a Canaanite woman who won't take "No!" for an answer.  Jesus ignores and insults.  He abuses theology.  Yet the woman is persistent, enlarging the picture of Jesus' mission for his disciples.

Pentecost 8A -- In the Boat

Reading: Matthew 14:22-33 Jesus walking on water testifies to his deep and unique relationship to God the Father.  With much resonance to other passages in scripture, we see that what God does, Jesus does.