This Sunday’s lectionary Gospel (Mark 4:35-41) is one I remember puzzling over when I was a university student. I had read it before, probably several times, since I started reading the Bible in high school. Maybe I’d even heard it preached. But I had never noticed this little story. I had never stopped and really […]
Monday Meditation: RCL Year B, 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Mark 4:26-34
I have come to dearly love the parables of the kingdom — all those rich metaphors for how God works in the world, in us, through us, and despite us. I love them even when, like this week, the lectionary wrenches them from their context. Mark 4:26-34 This week’s little parables come in Jesus’ sermon […]
Monday Meditation: RCL Year B, 10th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Mark 3:20-35
The Gospel for the 10th Sunday in Ordinary time (Mark 3:20-35) is what I think of as a “sandwich” passage. A Mark 3:20-35 Sandwich There are two stories, more or less related, but instead of putting them one after the other (as was the case last week), one story is split in two like slices […]
Monday Meditation: RCL Year B, 9th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Mark 2:23-3:6
Ordinary time in Year B of the Revised Common Lectionary brings us back to the Gospel of Mark. I’m glad to be back. Mark has a straightforwardness, an immediacy, that is always inviting. And it is short enough to read in a pretty easy sitting — a highly recommended practice if you want to see the subtlety […]
Monday Meditation: RCL Year B, Trinity Sunday, John 3:1-17
(This week’s Monday Meditation is coming out on Tuesday. But I really did write it on Monday. No kidding.) I love the story of Nicodemus (John 3:1-17), though it is very hard to read it with fresh eyes. (I’ve written on it a couple of other times. There’s a separate meditation for when it comes […]