Tag: God’s Reign
-
Season after Pentecost (Proper 17 [22]): The Psalm Passage – From praise to puzzlement to praise; a movement of the spirit
“O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples.” (Psalms 105:1) I am often impressed and stand in awe of the Revised Common Lectionary’s matching of various types of scripture passages. This week especially the Psalm’s passage seems to be right in line with the Old Testament…
-
Season after Pentecost (Proper 16 [21]): The Psalm Passage – The fates turn on the Israelites
“Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.”(Exodus 1:8) We now start down another long road of the story of God’s called and chosen people. It has often been joked by Jews that they sometimes wish God would chose someone else! It is bitter humor. The sentiment has at times been…
-
Season after Pentecost (Proper 15 [20]): The Psalm Passage – Seek and treasure harmony where you find it
“How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down upon the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down over the collar of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion. For…
-
Season after Pentecost (Proper 15 [20]): The Epistle Passage – Once again, Paul speaks forth
“I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew.” (Romans 11:1-2a) Paul, being a Jew and standing firm in that identity, does not believe God can be seen…
-
Season after Pentecost (Proper 14 [19]): The Psalm Passage – Preacher and Seeker recite praises to the Lord concerning Joseph
Preacher: “O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples.” Seeker: Praise the Lord, for our God has been mighty amongst us and has shown mercy, grace and justice to the people. Preacher: “Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works.” Seeker:…
-
Season after Pentecost (Proper 12 [17]): The Old Testament Passage – Lessons to be learned and legacies to be established
We pick up the story of Jacob when he had reached the ancestral home of his grandfather and his mother. His uncle Laban, now married himself and and with daughters, has agreed to employ Jacob to tend his flocks. But wants Jacob to earn more than just his room and board. Jacob has an idea…
-
Season after Pentecost (Proper 11 [16]): The Old Testament Passage – Being called and inspired by the Lord God
“Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran.” (Genesis 28:10) Last time with visited with Jacob and his family, Jacob had just cheated Esau out of his birth right. Then later he cheated Esau out of the blessing from their father, disguising himself as Esau. Isaac was pretty old by then, mostly deaf and mostly blind,…
-
Season after Pentecost (Proper 11 [16]): The Gospel Passage – Good wheat, and bad weeds
“He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well.”…
-
Season after Pentecost (Proper 9 [14]) : The Epistle Passage – Paul leads us through an obstacle course of theology
“I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” (Romans 7:15) What Paul, the writer of Romans, wants to do is follow God’s will. What he says he ends up doing is the opposite of God’s will and that is human…
-
Season after Pentecost (Proper 8 [13]) : The Old Testament Passages – In faith I say, “The Lord will Provide”
“After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” (Genesis 22:1) Trust me, beloved reader, when the Lord calls your name, you may as well answer. But do not doubt that answering the Lord will lead to things you never imagined! “He said, “Take your son, your…
A Simple Desire 