Trinity Sunday (C) – Rev. Russell Rathbun and Rev. Dr. Mark Stenberg
High Praise from Heaven
Depravity, or Delight?
by Mike Stavlund
Old Testament Reading: Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31
For Sunday, May 26, 2013: Year C—Holy Trinity
In this week’s Gospel reading, Jesus has lots of laudatory stuff to say about himself and the rest of the Trinity, and some not so flattering things to say about the rest of us. But just when we think we know our place, Proverbs surprises us with a contrary voice to all of that negativity.
In a soaring passage, the personification of Wisdom bears witness to us about the entire process of creation, raising us up to the heavens before swooping down over a primordial earth shaped into beauty by God’s own hands. The climax of which is the crown of this creation: the human race. Wisdom was at God’s right hand, and they are both filled to overflowing about this apogee of God’s creativity, and respond in kind,
…rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the human race. (Proverbs 8:31) [Read more...]
Are We There Yet?
Trouble in Paradise
by Mike Stavlund
Gospel Reading: John 16:12-15
For Sunday, May 26, 2013: Year C—Holy Trinity
In this week’s Gospel reading, Jesus seems to be a bit greedy. Or at the very least, territorial.
The doctrine of the Trinity is all about sharing and partnership and ultimate inseparability —and even perichoresis, that lovely metaphorical dance between Father, Son, and Spirit —but this sounds like an internecine debate about who gets to lead, where Jesus claims preeminence and prior ownership over the Father, and makes the Spirit into a puppet. Not to mention the sequentialism that leaves us thinking that the Spirit has been waiting in the dressing room since the beginning of time.
[Read more...]
Less Than Satisfactory
If you want a description of the Trinity, this is as good as it gets.
by Danielle Shroyer
Gospel Reading: John 14:8-17, 25-27
For Sunday, May 19, 2013: Year C—Pentecost
Have you got questions about the Trinity? You’re not alone. The disciples are right there with you.
If you’ve spent any time at all in a religion class discussing the Trinity, you already know the scriptural verses to “back it up” so to speak are few and far between. It’s a mystery, and mysteries aren’t spelled out in chapter and verse. But if you’re looking, this is one of the better examples of a relational Trinity you’ll find. That doesn’t mean it’s not confusing… [Read more...]
You Don’t Take Pentecost Seriously
No, really. You don’t. But you should.
by Danielle Shroyer
New Testament Reading: Acts 2:1-21
For Sunday, May 19, 2013: Year C—Pentecost
I’ll be straight with you: Pentecost is my favorite Christian day. So please excuse me while I hop up on my Pentecost soapbox for a moment.
[Clearing throat with gravitas.]
Pentecost is a radically important day. It’s the rightful conclusion to the story of resurrection. The dismantling that begins in Holy Week isn’t completed until Pentecost. Yes, we are all rightfully dazzled by the surprising turn of events at Easter. But then Jesus leaves on Ascension, and the Spirit comes at Pentecost. Then and only then is the work of Holy Week finished. So unless you want to have a really slim view of salvation (and really, who wants to skimp out on something as important as salvation?), you’ve got to hold all of these mysteries together to get the fullest picture of this new creation. Otherwise, you are going to MISS OUT. [Read more...]
Paul and Silas’ European Adventure
Lydia went on to be a legend and a saint—what happened to the slave girl?
New Testament Reading: Acts 16:16-34
For Sunday, May 12, 2013—Easter 7
Wow. This is a pretty exciting story, like worthy of the Homer. It even takes place in the same region as the Iliad and the Odyssey. Except they were written eight hundred years before the book of Acts and Acts is not written in dactylic hexameter—for which I am grateful. Still this is one of the epic-worthy sections of Luke’s follow up to Luke.
A Little More Lydia?
I will quibble with the Lectionari-eers once again and amend their pericope trimming. This story really needs to start in verse fifteen and end with verse forty. Then this reading would be clearly bookended with the references to Lydia and her home. To leave out the Lydia verses in this reading is to miss a critical juxatposition. [Read more...]
What about the Mystical Union?
Something Went Wrong.
Gospel Reading: John 17:20-26
For Sunday, May 12, 2013—Easter 7
The “heart of the Gospel,” the “culmination of John’s message,” where we find all the major themes coming together in Jesus’ “central teaching for the church,” the “summation”—these are the ways that interpreters describe the seventeenth chapter of the fourth gospel, so it must be really important.
The only problem is that it is really confusing and I am not completely sure I know what it means. I don’t mean that, given what it says, I am not sure how to interpret it. I mean, I do not always understand the sentences that are formed by the words which are strung together. [Read more...]
Not As the World Gives
Jesus’ Farewell and the Gift of Peace
by MaryAnn McKibben Dana
Gospel Reading: John 14:23-29
For Sunday, May 5, 2013—Easter 6
I’m reading the seventh Harry Potter book to my daughters these days.
While I love J.K. Rowling’s expansive imagination and loving attention to detail, the book could’ve been 200 pages shorter. But given how much bookshelf real estate the latter books take up, it’s clear that Rowling got so big as an author that no editor could tame her. No editor was willing to stand up to her and say, “No, Jo—you don’t need to show us Xenophilius Lovegood’s castle-shaped house in quite such exquisite detail.”
I feel that way about Jesus in his Farewell Discourse.
“I am going away.” We know.
“I will be sending the Advocate.” I believe you said that five minutes ago.
“I am with you just a little longer.” Well, the marathon sermon makes it seem like an eternity. [Read more...]
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