Alternate First Reading

Detail from painting depicting Herod's banquet, by Pedro García de Benabarre, ca. 1470
Commentary on 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19

A joyful celebration of the transfer of the ark Celebrations [...]

dusty sandals
Commentary on 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10

This reading combines three different genres: a brief narrative about [...]

Hand reaching out to touch a rough surface
Commentary on 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27

Perhaps, Jesus’ command to “love your enemies” was not as [...]

waves in darkness
Commentary on 1 Samuel 17:57—18:5, 10-16

After the narrative of killing Goliath, David grows in military [...]

Flowering plant
Commentary on 1 Samuel 15:34—16:13

The verse that states that YHWH “was sorry that he [...]

Snake in dimly lit foliage
Commentary on 1 Samuel 8:4-11 [12-15] 16-20; [11:14-15]

So many questions! How is [...]

field of grain
Commentary on 1 Samuel 3:1-10 [11-20]

The Samuel narrative continues in this account of his prophetic [...]

Detail from
Commentary on Judges 4:1-7

It is mind-boggling but true: this is the only passage from the book of Judges [...]

Detail from English Alabaster Panel depicting Christ's Resurrection, Late 14th Century.
Commentary on Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25

The book of Joshua concludes with two final speeches (23:1-16; [...]

Detail from
Commentary on Joshua 3:7-17

This summer I waded across a short stretch of the Rio Chama in the depths [...]