This week’s lectionary Gospel text (John 6:35, 41-51) starts with the same verse we ended with last week. Then, oddly, it skips four verses before continuing the story. It is the middle week of a five-week-long revel in John 6, as Jesus discusses, debates, and disputes about manna from heaven and himself as the “Bread […]
Monday Meditation: RCL Year B, 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, John 6:1-21
This Sunday we are back in John. The Lectionary gives us John’s version (John 6:1-21) of the bits of Mark they edited out last week (Mark 6:35-52). John 6:1-21 The same basic material is here: Jesus & Co. have sailed across the sea. People on land rushed to where Jesus was going and got there […]
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, 5th Sunday of Easter, John 15:1-8
I find it surprising that the Revised Common Lectionary’s cycle of Gospel texts in Easter season includes so little that is explicitly on the Resurrection. Last week there was, at least, the passing reference to Jesus taking his life up again after laying it down for his sheep. John 15:1-8 This week? Nothing. At least […]
Monday Meditation — RCL Year B, 3rd Sunday of Easter, Luke 24:36b–48
The similarities between the four evangelists when recounting the the resurrection encounters can make it hard to keep the stories straight. Next Sunday’s passage of Luke (Luke 24:36b–48) bears echoes of the pair of encounters in John, first without Thomas and then with him. Luke 24:36b–48 Once I get my bearings, I note four things, […]