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Progressive Christian

Lectionary

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Select a Month December 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 December 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011

July 2014

July 05, 2014

Dirt is Resurrection and God is a Bad Farmer (Homily for the Parable of the Sower)

Year A + Proper 10 + Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 I love dirt. I love the...

April 2014

April 30, 2014

The Hope in Our Wounds: A Homily for Easter 2A

[Open with dialogue with congregation about wounds] Some wounds never really heal. When I was...

April 19, 2014

Holy Saturday and Harry Potter: On Tombs, Thestrals, and the Descent into Hells

In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, author J.K. Rowling introduces readers to...

April 17, 2014

Disciples in the Darkness: Joseph of Arimathea, Loss of Meaning, and the Last Words of Jesus (A Good Friday Homily)

Good Friday — John 18:1-19:42 — Psalm 22 — Isaiah 52:13-53:12 It is finished. How...

November 2013

November 26, 2013

An Antidote to Anxiety: A Homily for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day Homily — Matthew 6: 25-33 (Due to confusion at my parish, in the...

August 2013

August 14, 2013

The Divisive Love of God: Homily for Proper 15C (Luke 12:49-56)

Proper 15C — Luke 12:49-56 As a parent of two little boys who in one...

July 2013

July 24, 2013

The Shameful Neighbor: Food Stamps, Stereotypes and the War on the Hungry (A Homily)

Proper 12 — Year C — Luke 11:1-13 There is no war on poverty in...

July 10, 2013

Jesus Doesn’t Want You to be a Good Samaritan: Lectionary Reflection for Proper 10C

For three unconventional retellings of this parable to enliven the well-worn story, visit here (the...

July 06, 2013

Calling Down Questions: Homily for Proper 9, June 30

On July 29, I was ordained to the transitional diaconate in Northern California with eight...

May 2013

May 16, 2013

The Divine Protest of Pentecost

The God of Pentecost doesn't have an official language. This is the shocking revelation of...

April 2013

April 01, 2013

Easter for Doubters: The Unexpected Faith of Thomas (Lectionary Reflection for the Second Sunday in Easter)

It's Easter. Do not be afraid to doubt. Doubt boldly. Doubt joyfully. In fact,...

March 2013

March 26, 2013

The Crucifixion: A Tale of Two Kingdoms (Good Friday Homily, John 18:1-19-42)

During Holy Week, we are tossed to and fro with stories of triumph and hosannas,...

March 07, 2013

God is the Prodigal Son: Reinventing Christianity’s Most Beloved Parable (Lectionary Reflection)

Lent 4C — Sunday, March 10 — Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 God is irresponsible. Hopelessly...

February 2013

February 28, 2013

God is a Gardener: A Homily for Lent 3C (Luke 13:1-9)

Lent 3C — Luke 13:1-9, 1 Cor. 10:1-13, Exodus 3:1-15 It doesn’t take much effort...

October 2012

October 11, 2012

When Jesus Invented a New Commandment

Mark 10:17-31/Proper 23B/Pentecost 20 “You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit...

October 03, 2012

Just Marriage: Jesus, Divorce and the Vulnerable (Lectionary Reflection)

Proper 22B/Pentecost 19 Mark 10:2-16 Earlier in the gospel of Mark, Jesus has a very...

October 02, 2012

The Rich Young Rulers of America and the Good News that Makes Us Sad (Lectionary Reflection)

I am the rich young ruler. And so are you. In the context of our...

September 2012

September 11, 2012

In Conversation: Jesus, Racism and the Syrophoenician Woman

Last week, I published a lectionary essay exploring the exchange between Jesus and the unnamed...

May 2012

May 28, 2012

Wrestling with the Trinity: Truth, Myth or Metaphor?

My first run-in with trinitarian theology happened sometime around the fifth grade when my Sunday...

May 22, 2012

Liberating Pentecost

God speaks. And the people understood. This confused them. In a nutshell, this is...

April 2012

April 25, 2012

Still Waters and Death Valleys: A Lectionary Meditation

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he...

April 17, 2012

The Resurrection and Wounds that Won’t Heal

Some wounds do not heal. When I was a journalist, I remember sitting with the...

April 02, 2012

Easter’s Rage: A Poem that Will Get Pastors Fired

Just a quick disclaimer: The following poem includes rather strong language. Something I think goes...

March 2012

March 29, 2012

10 Progressive Ideas for Enlivening Your Holy Week Experience

1. Attend a public demonstration protesting oppression in honor of Palm Sunday and the "triumphal...

February 2012

February 03, 2012

Vanishing Jesus and the Mystical Coming of Christ: A Lectionary Reflection on Mark 1:29-39

When people most seek him, Jesus runs away. When people finally get an inkling, a...