Put Your Sword in its Sheath

From frantic to patient, from fighter to fisher.

April 8, 2013 By 2 Comments

By Debbie Blue

Gospel Reading: John 21: 1-19

For Sunday, April 4, 2013: Year C—Easter 3

Personally, I’m relieved that the disciples decide to go fishing here in the epilogue of John’s dense and sometimes difficult to read text.

Going Fishing

The Gospel for Easter 3C is a good story (whoever may have written it)—almost breezy and funny in comparison to some of the more arduous discourses the author takes us through.

Many good readers take this fishing trip to be an indication that the disciples have failed in their call to be disciples—they are going back to what they know (fishing), instead of moving forward as disciples. But the disciples aren’t actually fisherman in the gospel of John, or at any rate the author doesn’t mention this as their vocation. Maybe they aren’t regressing—maybe they are relaxing. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured, John, New Testament, YearC Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Our Brother Gamaliel

The Backstory: Another Narrow Escape

April 1, 2013 By 1 Comment

by Mark Stenberg

New Testament Reading: Acts 5: 27-32

For Sunday, April 7, 2013: Year C—Easter 2

In this week’s episode of the Revised Common Lectionary, Peter and the increasingly emboldened disciples are dragged before the Temple council and threatened with death.

Yet they get off with a flogging and a stern warning to shut the heck up about this Jesus business.

Hurts Go Good

The trained THQ eye might be drawn toward the last line of this text, in which the disciples rejoice that they are going to be flogged. Yes. That’s what it says. “They rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Acts, Featured, New Testament, YearC Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Hammering it Home

If the experience of glory leads to silence, what are we supposed to say about it?

February 3, 2013 By Leave a Comment

by Ruth Everhart

Gospel Reading: Luke 9:28-36 [37–43a]

For Sunday, Februray 10, 2013—Transfiguration of Our Lord

When I was on a pilgrimage in Israel, we visited the Mount of Transfiguration. Our itinerary allotted thirty minutesfor this taste of mountaintop glory. As the bus rumbled toward the base of the mountain, I thought: It’s a ridiculous timeframe, of course, but maybe it will be enough.

In the story, Jesus manages to “get in and get out” of glory rather quickly. It’s Peter who tries to hang onto the moment. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Luke, New Testament, YearC Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Real World: Galilee

What happens Jesus stops being polite and starts getting real?

September 9, 2012 By 2 Comments

by Mike Baughman

Epistle Reading:  Mark 8:27-38

For Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012: Year B—Ordinary 24

Chances are at some point in your life, you found yourself sucked into an episode or two of The Real World. The lectionary today is a glimpse of Biblical reality vellum. So this week, we present:

The Real World: Galilee…the true story of twelve strangers, picked to follow a Rabbi, work together and have their lives recorded to find out what happens when people stop being polite and start getting real. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured, Mark, New Testament, YearB Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Not So Fast

April 1, 2012 By 2 Comments

Subcultural Dialogues About Easter

by Unvirtuous Abbey

New Testament Reading: Acts 10:34-43

For Sunday, April 9, 2012: Year B – Easter Sunday

Graffiti has existed since ancient times. Though there are many valid arguments against it, at its best, graffiti is an expression of self that creates a dialogue with the world through words or images that provoke a response. It’s a dialogue used by people within a subculture in which a statement is made which waits for a response.

Respond

A year ago, the side of a downtown historic church in Halifax, Nova Scotia was spray-painted with the words, “God is dead” in large black letters. The people of the church had two options: have the side of the building cleaned or respond.

The minister chose to respond. Around the words “God is dead,” she had written: “Not so fast. Happy Easter.” Great words to see written on the walls of the house of God.

Difficult Conversations

The setting for Acts 10:34-43 is the house of Cornelius.

Peter and Cornelius, a Centurion with the occupying force in Palestine, are having a conversation in a way that was not permitted because it was against Jewish law for a Jew to visit or associate with a Gentile.  

Cornelius believed in God and he had a vision. He asked Peter to come and talk. From a faith perspective, it must have been difficult for Cornelius as a Centurion to reconcile the soldier and the soul within him.

Rise Above Religion

Gandhi referred to Jesus as “the most active resister known to history – this is non-violence par excellence.” The God Peter speaks of is the one who rises above religion and encourages relationship. Among a plurality of values, it is the awe of God that is paramount.

What’s most important, says Peter, is that our love of God is what is accepted by God, not our division through faith practices or nationality. Yet, we seem to encourage those things in church communities. All too often, our gatherings aren’t nearly as diverse as Jesus has called us to be within his ministry. Faith isn’t about “us;”  it’s about the ones Jesus tried to show us. It’s about having subcultural dialogues with people and ideas beyond our walls.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Acts, Featured, New Testament, YearB Tagged With: , , , , ,

He Said These Things to Her

April 18, 2011 By 18 Comments

Why is it still so hard for women to get equal pulpit time in so many churches?

by Dave Buerstetta

Gospel Reading: John 20:1-18

For Sunday, Apr. 24, 2011: Year A – Resurrection of Our Lord

I don’t remember reading any section of scripture that includes more running than this one. Mary Magdalene rushes into the picture – breathless from running straight from Jesus’ tomb – and announces, “They have taken the Lord!”

Run, Forrest, Lola, John, Run!

Immediately, John (you know, the disciple whom Jesus loved) and Peter (you know, apparently not the disciple whom Jesus loved) spring into action. They run to investigate [cue music] The Mystery of the Empty Tomb!

They’re like bizarro versions of Shaggy & Scooby: they take off toward the spot of the mysterious sighting and, zoinks! they, like, can’t get there fast enough. They must see it with their own eyes!

Simon (the Rock) Peter, P.I.

John is faster so he arrives at the tomb first. But it seems Peter is the better investigator. Or at least the more curious one. Peter, as we’ve come to expect from him, doesn’t hesitate. He needs to see the evidence and thus immediately enters the tomb. John quickly follows him inside and they confirm Mary’s story:

Empty tomb? Check.

Linen wrappings lying there? Check.

Cloth from Jesus’ head rolled up and lying separately? Check.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured, John, New Testament, YearA Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Finding a New Lead-Off Hitter

April 18, 2011 By 12 Comments

How am I subverting God’s subversion of exclusivity?

by Dave Buerstetta

New Testament Reading: Acts 10:34-43

For Sunday, Apr. 24, 2011: Year A – Resurrection of Our Lord

With all due respect (isn’t it odd that this is probably the best way to indicate that something is about to be disrespected?) to that whole He-is-risen-indeed thing, this is the most important story to tell on Easter Day.

Of course, in order for this sermon of Peter’s to make any sense, we need to read the story that precipitated it. A story that, sadly, the RCL never has us consider. Am I the only one to whom that seems a bad idea? Maybe it’s the RCL’s way of forcing us to do some homework. You know the story; it’s the one with the…Worst…Lunch Menu…Ever.

Toads and lizards and vultures, Oh My!

Peter was staying in Joppa as the guest of Simon the tanner. Peter went up on Simon’s rooftop to pray, but was too distracted by his hunger to get much praying done. Instead, Peter had a vision. A sheet descended through a rift in the sky and on the sheet were four-footed animals, reptiles and birds. And a voice told Peter to “Get up! Kill and eat!” The only thing this missing from this menu was “and for dessert…chilled monkey brains!”

Peter, being a devout Jew, politely declined the offer. Or, you know, not so politely. “No! All my life, I’ve never eaten anything profane!” The voice responds, “What God makes clean, you must not call profane.”

This is Peter we’re talking about, so he had to see the vision three times. But then he really got it. Immediately after this vision he met with Gentiles, offered them hospitality (no word on what Simon the tanner thought about that), and traveled with them to Caesarea to meet Cornelius.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Acts, Featured, New Testament, YearA Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Three Saviors and a Neurotic

February 27, 2011 By 11 Comments

Beside Jesus glowing for a moment, what does the transfiguration transfigure?

by Russell Rathbun

Gospel Reading: Matthew 17:1-9

For Sunday, Mar. 6 , 2011: Year A – Transfiguration

“And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus.”

That is not a strong entrance for something, seemingly so grand. All of a sudden, they’re just up there, talking with Jesus. What could Elijah and Moses and Jesus have to talk about that is so important that it can’t wait till after the transfiguration?

What are they talking about?

Are they catching up?

Like, “Jesus, we haven’t seen you since the incarnation, how’s it going down here?”  And Jesus is like, “well pretty good — I’m not gonna say there aren’t some problems…but over all not bad.” Or are they doing official business? Is there something that Elijah and Moses know, that Jesus really needs to know so they have to run down to earth and tell him right quick?

The Rabbis talk about Moses and Elijah as The Great Saviors of Israel. Moses was the first savior. He saved Israel from Pharaoh delivered the nation out of Egypt and brought the law. And Elijah is supposed to be the last savior — it is written that he will come at the end of time to save the people and put everything it it’s right order.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured, Matthew, New Testament, YearA Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Can We Just Keep The Nice Bits?

October 31, 2010 By 1 Comment

Welcome to Psalm 149 – the one that might turn you into a Marcionite

by Nadia Bolz-Weber

Psalm Reading: Psalm 149

For Sunday, November 7, 2010 Year C - All Saints

You gotta love a party psalm. Everyone coming together to sing praises to God; the good, faithful people of God rejoicing in song and dance; women in bangles and swirling dresses, maidens playing lyres, children banging tambourines. I can just see it: God’s people all singing joyful hymns and praises to God. It’s a delightful scene.

If Only

If only we could end at verse 6a. If only. But instead we are stuck with a verse that begins with “Let the high praise of God be in their throats” and ends with “a two-edged sword in their hands.” In Psalm 149 we basically go from joy and song and dance to swords and vengeance and chains.

So, on All Saints Day, the day in which we celebrate the heroes of the faith perhaps we do well to ask a couple hard questions, like: Why can’t Psalm 149 end at verse 6a?

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured, Old Testament, Psalms, YearC Tagged With: , , , , , ,

New from sparkhouse