Commentary posted on August 28, 2017

Proper 17A Sermon Commentary

 

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Matthew 16:21-28 Sermon Commentary

Proper 17A

“In the cross of Christ I glory, towering o’er the wrecks of time.”  That is a hymn lyric that many Christians know.  But the notion of the cross towering over various temporal “wrecks” gained new poignancy when we saw on the news—and for those of us who went to Lower Manhattan in the months after…

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Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45b Sermon Commentary

Proper 17A

Psalm 105 is clearly an historical Psalm.  It traces the five stages of Israel’s early history, from the promise of the land to Abraham to the possession of the land under Joshua.  Indeed, the entire Psalm, like that history, is driven by that covenantal promise made to Abraham and rehearsed here in verses 8-11 (where…

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Romans 12:9-21 Sermon Commentary

Proper 17A

Some years back some more of Richard Nixon’s infamous White House tapes were released, this time revealing no less than the evangelist Billy Graham being complicit with some virulently anti-Semitic rhetoric.  Not only were Rev. Graham’s remarks at variance with his public approach to Jewish-Christian dialogue but they were more significantly so very, very un-Christian….

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Exodus 3:1-15 Sermon Commentary

Proper 17A

“Does Jesus Care?” is a hymn grieving family members sometimes ask soloists to sing at funerals.  They ask, “Does Jesus care when my heart is pained/ too deeply for mirth or song,/ as the burdens press, and the cares distress,/ and the way grows weary and long?” While the lyrics may seem a bit outdated…

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