The Adventurous Lectionary – The Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost – October 8, 2023

October 1, 2023 By Bruce Epperly

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost – October 8, 2023 Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20; Psalm 19, Philippians 3:4-14, Matthew 21:33-46 While there are many entry points for this Sunday’s readings. Looking toward the far horizons, running the race with imperfection and hope (Philippians 3:4-14), enables us to follow divine guidance (The Ten Commandments) as well as respond to the serious consequences related to our negative responses to God, our refusal to follow God’s anointed one and God’s way in the world. (Matthew... Read more

The Adventurous Lectionary – The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost – October 1, 2023

September 25, 2023 By Bruce Epperly

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The Adventurous Lectionary – The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost – October 1, 202 Exodus 17:1-7, Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16, Philippians 2:1-13, Matthew 21:23-32 A constant comment in my lectionaries involves the affirmation, initially made by Terry Fretheim: It has been said that the question, “do you believe in God?” is less important than “what kind of God do you believe in?” Our images of God shape our understanding of our personal agency, hope for the future, authority, approach to diversity, and... Read more

The Adventurous Lectionary – Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost – September 24, 2023

September 17, 2023 By Bruce Epperly

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The Adventurous Lectionary – The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost – September 24, 2023 Exodus 16:2-15, Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45, Philippians 1:21-30, Matthew 20:1-16 The realm of God isn’t a labor union, nor is it free market capitalism. In this week’s passages, we read about the abundant generosity of God in our physical sustenance and spiritual growth. God’s good work plants seed in our lives that grow into a harvest of righteousness, abundant enough to nourish ourselves and others. One of the... Read more

The Adventurous Lectionary – Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost – September 17, 2023

September 10, 2023 By Bruce Epperly

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The Adventurous Lectionary – September 17, 2023 – Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost Exodus 14:19-31, Psalm114, Romans 14:1-12, Matthew 18:21-35 Once again, we are presented with challenging readings. The thoughtful preacher must affirm that God’s love includes our friends as well as our enemies, and that we must remember God’s inclusiveness even in political and military contexts. These multi-faceted and challenging readings explore interdependent themes of forgiveness, pluralism, and deliverance. Our dependence and interdependence with God and others are the framework... Read more

The Adventurous Lectionary – September 10, 2023 – The Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

September 3, 2023 By Bruce Epperly

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The Adventurous Lectionary – September 10, 2023 – The Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost Exodus 12:1-14 Psalm 149 Romans 13:8-14 Matthew 18:15-20 This week’s scriptures are spiritually and ethically ambiguous. The pastor needs to read with care and address the ambiguities of the text. They raise issues of divine violence and exclusion as well as God’s protective safety and the preservation of community. The Passover passages celebrate liberation, but at the cost of innocent children and non-human animals. Like many important... Read more

The Adventurous Lectionary – Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost – September 3, 2023

August 27, 2023 By Bruce Epperly

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The Adventurous Lectionary – September 3, 2023 – Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost Exodus 3:1-15 Psalm 105:1-6. 23-26, 45a Romans 12:9-12 Matthew 16:21-28 This Sunday’s readings join mysticism with action and God-awareness with sacrifice. They also reflect on our vocation as followers of God. Being called by God can come in many ways and may have different demands, depending on our age, context, and station in life. In contrast to the values of our success oriented, individualistic, and capitalistic society, following... Read more

The Adventurous Lectionary – Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost – August 27, 2023

August 20, 2023 By Bruce Epperly

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The Adventurous Lectionary – August 27, 2023 – Thirteenth Sunday after the Pentecost Exodus 1:8-2:10; Psalm 124; Romans 12:1-8; Matthew 16:13-20 Today’s readings invite us to ponder our unique vocations as they reflect our relationship with God. Divine providence is reflected in our personal lives as well as the politics of our nation. Opening to the contours of providence – and providence promotes rather than restricts freedom and creativity – we discern, albeit imperfectly, God’s vision and the nature of... Read more

The Adventurous Lectionary – Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost – August 20, 2023

August 14, 2023 By Bruce Epperly

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The Adventurous Lectionary – August 20, 2023 – The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost Genesis 45:1-15; Psalm 133; Romans 11:1-2a, 29-31; Matthew 15: 21-28 Today’s readings join reconciliation and grace. They call us to a spirituality of stature that embraces those who have harmed us and persons of other faiths and ethnicities. They call us to explore the larger meanings of our lives and to see a thread of providence moving through the unexpected and unchosen events of life. Often from... Read more

The Adventurous Lectionary – The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost – August 13, 2023

August 6, 2023 By Bruce Epperly

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The Adventurous Lectionary – August 13, 2023 – The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28; Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22; Romans 10:5-15; Matthew 14:22-33 Today’s passages probe the nature of divine providence, or the movements of divine intentionality, in our lives. Providence is often seen as deterministic and compelling; it may also be seen as open-ended and an invitation to agency and creativity. The very assumption of providence in an ambiguous world raises many questions. Is God the sole cause of... Read more

The Adventurous Lectionary – The Tenth Sunday after Pentecost – August 6, 2023

July 30, 2023 By Bruce Epperly

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The Adventurous Lectionary – August 6, 2023 – The Tenth Sunday after Pentecost Genesis 32:22-31; Psalm 17:1-7, 15; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 13:14-21 Everyone needs a blessing, a sense of belonging, a experience of mattering, an affirmation of selfhood. We need a blessing from our parents and significant others, and we need a blessing from God. To be blessed is to be right with the world and feel at home in our skin. It is to be affirmed and loved just... Read more