Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A
Wayne Brouwer
In 1967, a psychologist named Kinch reported a rather bizarre experiment conducted by
university psychology graduate students. These males were part of what they considered
to be the "in" crowd on campus. They moved in the right circles, dressed the right way,
and went to the right places for nightlife parties.
But they all knew a particular young woman who wasn't in that circle. She was an "outsider," a "nobody," a person who didn't count, at least to them and their kind.
Knowing the effects of behavior modification, they planned together to see how she would change if they treated her, for a time, as if she were part of their "in" crowd. They made an agreement that whenever they saw her they would compliment her and show an interest in her....
But they all knew a particular young woman who wasn't in that circle. She was an "outsider," a "nobody," a person who didn't count, at least to them and their kind.
Knowing the effects of behavior modification, they planned together to see how she would change if they treated her, for a time, as if she were part of their "in" crowd. They made an agreement that whenever they saw her they would compliment her and show an interest in her....
William H. Shepherd
One of the central concepts of the Bible is the "covenant." A covenant is a contract-plus. Like a contract, a covenant is an agreement between two parties to behave in a certain way: I'll do this, and you will do that. Unlike a contract, however, the two parties are not necessarily equals; a king, for example, could enter into a covenant with his people, while in no way ceding power to the people. Further, you can't just walk away from a covenant. A contract, sure -- just pay the penalties for breaking the agreement and you're off the hook. Covenants, however, frequently invoke curses on those who do not live up to their obligations. Certainly the biblical covenants -- of God with Abraham, for example, or the Sinai tradition -- embrace these ideas: they are covenants of unequals that...
Sandra Herrmann
“Wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.” This week, we have the story of Abraham’s servant going “back home” to find a wife for his boss’ son juxtaposed with Jesus’ words about the criticism he and John the Baptist got for living in two diametrically opposed lifestyles. Jesus is, in effect, saying: “What do you expect? You went out to the wilderness to see John, who preached fear and the punishment sinners deserve, and wound up calling him a madman. You come to see me, and then criticize me for ministering to the outcasts, for eating and drinking like any normal person. So I ask you again: What are you looking for?”
Frank Ramirez
There’s no use having vain regrets because we didn’t. How about instead we do instead of don’t instead of listening to nay sayers who want us all to won’t.
In Genesis, Abraham’s servant coulda given up. The task he was given was impossible. Find a bride for his master’s son. Instead, he prayed and then did his best to follow the leading of the Spirit. In this passage, he is retelling what just occurred, even improving on the story as he retold it, and it’s all an opportunity to thank God.
Paul laments that he is still falling into the same traps, doing the things he woulda instead of the things he shoulda. But thanks be to God, he’s still in the game.
Jesus uses a child’s chant to challenge the authorities to get out of the rut they are in, instead of...
In Genesis, Abraham’s servant coulda given up. The task he was given was impossible. Find a bride for his master’s son. Instead, he prayed and then did his best to follow the leading of the Spirit. In this passage, he is retelling what just occurred, even improving on the story as he retold it, and it’s all an opportunity to thank God.
Paul laments that he is still falling into the same traps, doing the things he woulda instead of the things he shoulda. But thanks be to God, he’s still in the game.
Jesus uses a child’s chant to challenge the authorities to get out of the rut they are in, instead of...
David Kalas
When I was a boy, I heard a preacher remind his congregation about the true nature of the cross. He observed that we have turned the cross into both a lovely adornment in our sanctuaries and a piece of jewelry for our bodies. It is, for us, a smooth, attractive, gilded thing. But the original cross, he insisted, was nothing like that. The cross that Jesus bore -- and the cross, therefore, that we are invited to take up as his followers -- is harsh and heavy. It is rugged and bloody. It is heavy wood across the back, not silver or gold on a lapel or necklace.
And just as the crosses of the New Testament were not made of silver, neither were the yokes of the New Testament made of sentiment.
“Take my yoke upon you” is a sentimental phrase for most of us who grew up...
And just as the crosses of the New Testament were not made of silver, neither were the yokes of the New Testament made of sentiment.
“Take my yoke upon you” is a sentimental phrase for most of us who grew up...
Schuyler Rhodes
There are many books describing amazing journeys, but one of the most fascinating for me was Endurance, the story of Ernest Shackleton's experience in Antarctica in 1915. Shackleton's plan was to cross Antarctica on foot, but just a day's sail short of the disembarking point Shackleton's ship, the Endurance, became ice-bound. After ten months of drifting with his ship and crew in the icepack, the Endurance gave way to the pressures of the ice and was crushed. It was then that the adventure really began. Endurance was not just the name of a ship, but a description of how these sailors hung together in their 850-mile march to safety.
The idea of journeying will guide us through this week's lessons, though hopefully endurance will not be one of the...
The idea of journeying will guide us through this week's lessons, though hopefully endurance will not be one of the...
There are many books describing amazing journeys, but one of the most fascinating for me was Endurance, the story of Ernest Shackleton's experience in Antarctica in 1915. Shackleton's plan was to cross Antarctica on foot, but just a day's sail short of the disembarking point, Shackleton's ship, the Endurance, became ice-bound. After 10 months of drifting with his ship and crew in the icepack, the Endurance gave way to the pressures of the ice and was crushed. It was then that the adventure really began. Endurance was not just the name of a ship, but a description of how these sailors hung together in their 850-mile march to safety.
The idea of journeying will guide us through this week's lessons, though hopefully endurance will not be one of the requisite attributes.
...
The idea of journeying will guide us through this week's lessons, though hopefully endurance will not be one of the requisite attributes.
...
As we join our fellow citizens to celebrate the 223rd birthday of our country, we also join our sisters and brothers in Christ around the world in celebrating the ongoing but always precious presence of the Lord in our midst. We can celebrate the presence of one so powerful only because that same Lord is the one we know as humble and gentle, hospitable and gracious, faithful and ultimately victorious.
Our world is filled with people who live in fear of God. Their view of God is that of a police officer out to catch them in some misdemeanor, or a judge who passes sentence on the basis of the arrest. Living with that kind of God would make God the last one a person would want to see or to have walking side by side or to have present at our meals. Undoubtedly they learned that...
Our world is filled with people who live in fear of God. Their view of God is that of a police officer out to catch them in some misdemeanor, or a judge who passes sentence on the basis of the arrest. Living with that kind of God would make God the last one a person would want to see or to have walking side by side or to have present at our meals. Undoubtedly they learned that...
Unless you happen to serve in a recreation/vacation area where you are blessed with summertime visitors, this Sunday, on Independence Day Weekend, probably marks low tide in worship attendance. And that, in turn, brings with it the temptation to ease off a bit in our sermon preparation. Given the texts for this Sunday, that would be a tragedy. Those "faithful few" who come on this day will have a feast in store for them if we give this sermon the same energy we devote to the rest of this year's efforts.
The key to a common thread for the day may be in the words of Paul to the Romans: "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" With sky rockets and marching bands and brilliant aerial displays fresh in the minds of the congregation, this is a day to remind ourselves that...
The key to a common thread for the day may be in the words of Paul to the Romans: "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" With sky rockets and marching bands and brilliant aerial displays fresh in the minds of the congregation, this is a day to remind ourselves that...
Lectionary Commentary and Sermon Illustrations
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