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The “kingship” of Christ is problematic for some of us today because of its male and hierarchical overtones. Christ the King Sunday first emerged, as I understand it, as an attempt to counter the outlandish (...)

This lection is quite short, a snippet from within a larger literary context. Such snippets, which are not infrequently encountered in the lectionary, can actually function to hinder if not hamper biblical literacy, something that (...)

Reading through this text brings to mind what Professor John Bright once wrote about these “confessions” of Jeremiah: Here, indeed, we learn what faith really is: not that smug faith which is untroubled by questions (...)

We ought to first note that the lectionary this week has skipped over I Peter 2.1-18. The very important passage in I Peter 2.4-10 will be next week’s text. The creators of the lectionary have (...)

Mark 10:32-52 comprises three interrelated but separable units. All constitute the third revolution of a quadripartite cycle, begun at 8:27-9:1 and repeated in 9:30-37. Location Prediction of the Son of Man’s Destiny Disciples’ Misunderstanding Teaching (...)

Matthew is especially rich in parables featuring final judgment imagery. Where Mark never mentions weeping and gnashing of teeth, and Luke does so only once, Matthew does on six occasions, including this parable. Along with (...)

Finally! The devastating words of judgment have begun to fade. Jerusalem has fallen. The worst that can happen lies in the background. Now God begins to restore. Now God offers hope. The first 32 chapters (...)

The connection between justice and care is often lost in contemporary Christian practice.  We’ve gotten the memo on the importance of care, and today’s gospel lesson more than adequately underscores that message. When Christ returns (...)

Every year, the Sunday that begins Holy Week gives us this reading from Paul: “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus … ” The brilliance and wisdom of Philippians 2:5-11 (...)

The good shepherd discourse, or at least the idea of Jesus as the good shepherd, is one of John’s especially memorable moments that tend to be remembered out of context. While it can have in (...)