Category Archives: Social Political Issues

Epiphany 3 A: The Light of Jesus for Today’s Darkness

Posted on January 18, 2023 by John

The lessons for the Third Sunday after the Epiphany are Old Testament      Isaiah 9:1–4 Psalm                    Psalm 27:1, 4–9 New Testament     1 Corinthians 1:10–18 Gospel                   Matthew 4:12–23 The first few chapters of Matthew have been overture. Now … Continue reading →

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Epiphany 2 A: Marching to a Different Drummer

Posted on January 13, 2023 by John

The readings for the Second Sunday after the Epiphany are…  Old Testament     Isaiah 49:1–7 Psalm                    Psalm 40:1–11 New Testament     1 Corinthians 1:1–9 Gospel                   John 1:29–42 Isaiah 49 sets the tone for this Sunday’s readings, describing Servant … Continue reading →

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Baptism of the Lord A: God Shows No Partiality

Posted on January 7, 2023 by John

The readings for the Baptism of the Lord are Old Testament      Isaiah 42:1–9 Psalm                    Psalm 29 New Testament     Acts 10:34–43 Gospel                   Matthew 3:13–17 When the author of Luke and Acts thought of the most important implication … Continue reading →

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New Year’s Day ABC: Our Eternal Now

Posted on December 27, 2022 by John

The Readings for New Year’s Day are Old Testament      Ecclesiastes 3:1–13 Psalm                     Psalm 8 New Testament     Revelation 21:1–6a Gospel                   Matthew 25:31–46 There are so many things that the church could mark on this Sunday:  New Year, … Continue reading →

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Advent 4 A: Being A Righteous Man

Posted on December 14, 2022 by John

The readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent are: Old Testament      Isaiah 7:10–16 Psalm                    Psalm 80:1–7, 17–19 New Testament     Romans 1:1–7 Gospel                   Matthew 1:18–25 Our Gospel lesson today is about that other parent of Jesus. We … Continue reading →

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Advent 3A:  Holy Way—Holy Home

Posted on December 6, 2022 by John

The readings for the Third Sunday of Advent are Old Testament      Isaiah 35:1–10 Psalm                    Psalm 146:5–10 or Luke 1:46b–55 New Testament     James 5:7–10 Gospel                   Matthew 11:2–11 Churches used to have big signs that said, “Jesus is … Continue reading →

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Advent 2 A: Christ is Here! Christ Shall Come Again!

Posted on December 2, 2022 by John

The lessons for the Second Sunday of Advent are: Old Testament      Isaiah 11:1–10 Psalm                    Psalm 72:1–7, 18–19 New Testament     Romans 15:4–13 Gospel                   Matthew 3:1–12 I’m willing to bet that when the prophet Isaiah pronounced this famous … Continue reading →

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Advent 1 A: Holy Dissatisfaction

Posted on November 23, 2022 by John

The readings for the First Sunday of Advent are: Old Testament      Isaiah 2:1–5 Psalm                    Psalm 122 New Testament     Romans 13:11–14 Gospel                   Matthew 24:36–44 In his 1843 book, Fear and Trembling, the Danish philosopher, Søren Kierkegaard, criticized … Continue reading →

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Christ the King C: Woe to Shepherds Who Scatter

Posted on November 15, 2022 by John

The readings for this Christ the King Sunday are Old Testament      Jeremiah 23:1–6 Psalm                    Luke 1:68–79 or Psalm 46 New Testament     Colossians 1:11–20 Gospel                   Luke 23:33–43 Jeremiah proclaims a divine oracle of woe unto those who … Continue reading →

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Pentecost 23 C: Christianity, Violence, Love, and Elections

Posted on November 8, 2022 by John

The lessons for the Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost are… Old Testament      Malachi 4:1–2a Psalm                    Psalm 98 New Testament     2 Thessalonians 3:6–13 Gospel                   Luke 21:5–19 As I write this post it is the day of mid-term elections. … Continue reading →

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