Category Archives: Church and Social Movements

Pentecost 18B: Friendship, Peace, and Social Distancing

Posted on September 22, 2021 by John

The readings for this 18th Sunday after Pentecost are Old Testament      Numbers 11:4–6, 10–16, 24–29 Psalm                    Psalm 19:7–14 New Testament     James 5:13–20 Gospel                   Mark 9:38–50 Are not the biggest twin challenges of this time the social … Continue reading →

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Pentecost 17B: Fighting Hard in the Culture Wars

Posted on September 15, 2021 by John

The readings for this 17th Sunday after Pentecost are: Old Testament      Jeremiah 11:18–20 Psalm                    Psalm 54 New Testament     James 3:13–4:3, 4:7–8a Gospel                   Mark 9:30–37 We are at an inflection point. We are in a culture war. … Continue reading →

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Pentecost 16B: Teaching through the Pandemic

Posted on September 8, 2021 by John

The readings for the 16th Sunday after Pentecost are: Old Testament      Isaiah 50:4–9a Psalm                    Psalm 116:1–9 New Testament     James 3:1–12 Gospel                   Mark 8:27–38 Teachers in a time of pandemic would be wise to pay close attention … Continue reading →

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Pentecost 15B: We Are All Beggars

Posted on September 3, 2021 by John

The readings for the 15th Sunday after Pentecost are… Old Testament      Isaiah 35:4–7a Psalm                    Psalm 146 New Testament     James 2:1–10 (11–13) 14–17 Gospel                   Mark 7:24–37 Concurrent with the pandemic has come the challenge of social justice. … Continue reading →

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Pentecost 14 B: Virtues for Pandemic Times

Posted on August 25, 2021 by John

The readings for the 14th Sunday after Pentecost are… Old Testament      Deuteronomy 4:1–2, 6–9 Psalm                    Psalm 15 New Testament     James 1:17–27 Gospel                   Mark 7:1–8, 14–15, 21–23 Our lessons this Sunday should inform the church so that … Continue reading →

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Pentecost 12B: Masks, Vaccines, and Neighbor-Love

Posted on August 13, 2021 by John

The Readings for the 12th Sunday after Pentecost are: Old Testament      Proverbs 9:1–6 Psalm                    Psalm 34:9–14 New Testament     Ephesians 5:15–20 Gospel                   John 6:51–58 Again, this week, I want to focus on the Ephesians lessons, which reads … Continue reading →

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Pentecost 11B: Less Fire, More Bread

Posted on August 5, 2021 by John

The readings for the 11th Sunday after Pentecost are: Old Testament      1 Kings 19:4–8 Psalm                    Psalm 34:1–8 New Testament     Ephesians 4:25–5:2 Gospel                   John 6:35, 41–51 I believe the Sunday reading most fitting for this pandemic time … Continue reading →

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Pentecost 10B: Maintain the Gift of Unity

Posted on July 30, 2021 by John

The readings for the 10th Sunday after Pentecost are Old Testament       Exodus 16:2–4, 9–15 Psalm                    Psalm 78:23–29 New Testament      Ephesians 4:1–16 Gospel                   John 6:24–35 I will focus here on the Ephesians reading, and especially the first … Continue reading →

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Pentecost 9B: The Surpassing Beauty of Us

Posted on July 23, 2021 by John

The readings for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost are: Old Testament       2 Kings 4:42–44 Psalm                    Psalm 145:10–18 New Testament      Ephesians 3:14–21 Gospel                   John 6:1–21 My focus in these reflections is on the prayer contained in the … Continue reading →

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Pentecost 7B: Repentance is Healthier than Denial

Posted on July 6, 2021 by John

The readings for the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost are: Old Testament      Amos 7:7–15 Psalm                    Psalm 85:8–13 New Testament     Ephesians 1:3–14 Gospel                   Mark 6:14–29 The Old Testament, Psalm, and Gospel Readings all tell us that repentance is … Continue reading →

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