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2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17
Proper 27C
I grew up near a college that tried to take the Scriptures quite literally. One of the most memorable bumper stickers that “graced” at least some of its faculty and students’ cars read “In the case of the Rapture this car will be unoccupied.” As I matured, I wondered what havoc Rapture would wreak on…
Luke 19:1-10
Proper 26C
Zacchaeus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he… You probably know the song. But have you ever wondered why it only tells part of the story in Luke 19.1-10? We sing of Jesus inviting himself over, but we never voice the part about what happens when Zacchaeus fully welcomes Jesus…
2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12
Proper 26C
This Sunday’s Epistolary Lesson returns to one of last Sunday’s themes that is suffering for the sake of Jesus Christ. However, while last Sunday’s Lesson largely addressed Paul’s suffering for his faith, this week’s focuses mostly on the Thessalonian Christians’ suffering for their faith. By the power of the Holy Spirit, preachers might let 2…
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
Proper 25C
I’ve always wondered if Paul’s hands didn’t shake at least a bit as he wrote, “The time for my departure [analyseos*] is near [ephesteken] (6).” Or if his brow furrowed with a sort of defiance as he penned in verse 7, “I have fought [egonismai] the good fight [kalon agona]” (7). Or if the aging…
Luke 18:9-14
Proper 25C
A Pharisee and a tax collector walk into the temple to pray… It sounds like it could be the start of a bad joke. And in some ways, it is—especially as you read Eugene Peterson’s version in The Message: “The Pharisee posed and prayed like this: ‘Oh, God, I thank you that I am not…
2 Timothy 3:14-4:5
Proper 24C
Paul begins this Sunday’s Epistolary Lesson by summoning Timothy to “Continue in [mene en*].” It is a call to persevere, in the paraphrase The Message offers, an invitation to “stick with.” If it were an American country western song, it might sound something like, “Keep on trucking.” Verse 14a’s “But” [de] connects that summons to…
Luke 18:1-18
Proper 24C
The way this parable needs to be interpreted is given to us right at the beginning. Luke says that “Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart.” To keep doing something that doesn’t seem to be working—yet—and to not be discouraged to the point of giving up,…
Luke 17:11-19
Proper 23C
This is a great text for those of us preaching in Canada since it happens to be Thanksgiving weekend. Of course, it’s a good text for all of us around the world, but the thing that sets this leper apart from the other nine was his act of gratitude. What better theme for the holiday?…
2 Timothy 2:8-15
Proper 23C
While verse 14 falls near the end of this Sunday’s Epistolary Lesson, it’s at least arguably central to it. After all, while translations like the NIV separate it with a paragraph break from the rest of this Lesson, it can be seen as speaking to both what follows and precedes that break that translators have…
Luke 17:5-10
Proper 22C
When I was a teenager, a well-meaning adult wanted to encourage me in the faith with a small gift. Obviously bought at the Christian bookstore, it was a dark blue pen on a matching dark blue lanyard and it had an actual mustard seed encased in the cap with verse 6 written in mustard yellow…
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