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“I am a servant.” – Larry Norman, 1976 This lectionary reading for Palm Sunday is the third of four servant songs in Second Isaiah (see also Isaiah 42:1-9; 49:1-6; 52:13-53:12), explicitly identified as Israel in (...)

“You’ve got to have heart.” – Coach Jimmy McGinty, The Replacements. Some biblical passages are difficult to preach because they are obscure. (That may have been the case with last week’s reading from Numbers 21.) (...)

The appointed psalm comprises two sections of the lengthy song of thanksgiving, Psalm 107. A quick overview of the entire psalm will be helpful to understanding this portion. (For once I do NOT suggest doing (...)

Reality bites.1 The book of Numbers from the Hebrew Bible is not well-represented in the lectionary; only three different texts (Numbers 6, 11, and 21) are included. Our text this morning could be preached in (...)

Narrative context is so important.  When this passage is taken out of context, it seems to suggest that the mission of Jesus and his disciples is to suffer and die. However, when we read it (...)

Psalm 25 is the reading for the First Sunday in Lent, the season in which Christians prepare themselves for the passion of Jesus.1 Jesus, this preacher, prophet, sage, and teacher, begins a journey to Jerusalem (...)

Discussion on texts for Christmas Day – Proper 3 (rebroadcast from Dec. 25, 2019). (Gospel) John 1:1-14; (First Reading) Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98; (Second Reading) Hebrews 1:1-4, [5-12]. Recorded at Luther Seminary, Saint Paul, Minn., (...)

On Ash Wednesday, people in churches, homes, and streets all over the world will receive ashes, beginning a 40-day period the Christian tradition calls Lent.1 Lent is really a journey that takes all of us (...)

Blow the shophar. The blowing of the shophar, or ram’s horn (NRSV: trumpet), was a signal for a number of things in ancient Israel, including:  military movement (for example Judges 3:27; 6:34; 2 Samuel 2:28)  (...)

First there is a blinding flash of light and then the thunderous sound of God speaking. It’s the story of the Transfiguration, right? Yes. But it is also the beginning of Psalm 50. A festival (...)