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Isaiah 58:1-12 Sermon Commentary
Epiphany 5A
Because I prepare about a month early, I am reading these words against the backdrop of ICE raids, of terrorized people and extrajudicial killing in detention facilities and on the streets of Minneapolis. As I settled into my seat to review the text before diving into commentaries, I read these words and my body tensed,…
Psalm 112:1-9 (10) Sermon Commentary
Epiphany 5A
It’s never terribly clear to me just what it means when the Revised Common Lectionary puts a single verse in parentheses. It’s the final verse, verse 10, of Psalm 112 that gets that treatment. Maybe it’s meant to say “Include it in your sermon or don’t—it’s up to you.” They are not skipping that verse…
Matthew 5:13-20 Sermon Commentary
Epiphany 5A
How does salt lose its saltiness? Thinking about the salt as it is, one of the ways it will lose its potency is by diluting it, say in a large amount of water. As the salt dissolves and has more and more water added to it, it’s saltiness won’t be as strong. Or, salt that…
1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16) Sermon Commentary
Epiphany 5A
In last week’s Epistolary Lesson commentary I suggested that preachers who feel called to proclaim 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 might consider entitling their message “Good News for Ordinary Christians.” This week I’d offer that preachers who proclaim 1 Corinthians 2 might consider entitling their message “Good News for Ordinary Gospel Proclaimers.” The faithful proclamation of the…
Commentary posted on February 2, 2026
Epiphany 5A Sermon Commentary
The Epiphany 5A Sermon Commentaries include reflection and illustration ideas for Matthew 5:13-20 from the Lectionary Gospel; Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12) from the Old Testament Lectionary; Psalm 112:1-9 (10) from the Lectionary Psalms; and 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16) from the Lectionary Epistle.