A Simple Desire

Since 2015 Commenting on the Revised Common Lectionary

Presentation of the Lord, Yr A, 2023 – Old Testament & Gospel Passages; A Host of Messengers to announce the MessiahFebruary 2, 2023
“See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight–indeed, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 3:1) Okay, so let us look at this verse as a prophecy and […]

Advertisement
Fifth Sunday After Epiphany, Yr A, 2023 – Epistle Passage: Listening to Paul carefully with an open spiritFebruary 1, 2023
“When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and […]
Fifth Sunday After Epiphany, Yr A, 2023 – Old Testament Passage: Listening to Isaiah carefully with an open earJanuary 31, 2023
“Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Announce to my people their rebellion, to the house of Jacob their sins.” (Isaiah 58:1) There are different types of prophets. Some are loud, (yes) holding nothing back. Proclaiming up and down the sins of the people as the prophet sees it. […]
Fourth Sunday After Epiphany, Yr A, 2023 – Psalm Passage: The Wisdom & Wise Living Principle: Preacher & Seeker talkJanuary 28, 2023
Preacher: “O LORD, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill?” Seeker: It does not take special skills or attributes to dwell with the Lord God. In fact some of the people in the bible did not seem to be worthy of dwelling in the Holy Presence. And yet the […]
Fourth Sunday After Epiphany, Yr A, 2023 – Gospel Passage: the Wisdom PrincipleJanuary 27, 2023
“When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: . . . “ (Matthew 5:1 – 2) The fairly astute reader will ask who is Jesus teaching? The crowds or his disciples? The scholarly reader […]
Fourth Sunday After Epiphany, Yr A, 2023 – Epistle Passage: the Foolishness PrincipleJanuary 25, 2023
“For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (I Corinthians 1:18) I remember this world “foolishness” because I used it in the title of my reflections from last time. I asked where do you get your foolishness […]
Fourth Sunday After Epiphany, Yr A, 2023 – Old Testament Passage: the Micah PrincipleJanuary 24, 2023
“Hear what the LORD says: Rise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the LORD, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for the LORD has a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel.” (Micah 6:1 – 2) It is […]
Third Sunday After Epiphany, Yr A, 2023 – Psalm Passage: Where & when do you get your courage & knowledge from? Preacher & Seeker talk about itJanuary 21, 2023
Seeker: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Preacher: “One thing I asked of the Lord, that I will seek after: to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to […]
Third Sunday After Epiphany, Yr A, 2023 – Gospel Passage: Where & when do you get your “light” from? [Setting the record straight]January 20, 2023
“Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by […]
Third Sunday After Epiphany, Yr A, 2023 – Epistle Passage: Where do you get your “foolishness” from? And where do you get your power?January 18, 2023
“Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that […]
Third Sunday After Epiphany, Yr A, 2023 – Old Testament Passage: From the here & now, and looking back to the thenJanuary 17, 2023
“But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.” (Isaiah 9:1) The […]