Epiphany 4 | Ordinary Time 4 - A
Jimmy Carter was the first person elected to be President who admitted he was "born again." Under suspicion by much of the nation to whom such language about "a personal experience of Jesus" was unfamiliar, Mr. Carter knew that some feared he would be overly religious. Like all presidents, he did include a religious note in his inaugural address, but his was most brief. He simply referred to a text a teacher had taught him: Micah 6:1-8.
A good choice. Many politicians like it. We are better off when they choose this one than when they select passages identifying American government with that of ancient Israel. That theocracy, which was to be directly God-ruled, was an elect nation in ways ours cannot be. In our republic, we cannot see everything about Israel applied to...
Ron Love
Pope Francis was selected as Time magazine's "Person of the Year." Regarding his selection, Nancy Gibbs, the magazine's managing editor, said, "He really stood out to us as someone who has changed the tone and the perception and the focus of one the world's largest institutions in an extraordinary way." All three lectionary readings speak of change. And it is a change that violates those seven deadly words of the church: "We've never done it that way before."
Pope Francis certainly is in violation of that established creed. He removed the fleet of Vatican luxury cars and replaced them with affordable midsize models. He has removed the title of monsignor from the hierarchy of the priesthood. He has selected cardinals from predominately third-world countries. His...
Pope Francis certainly is in violation of that established creed. He removed the fleet of Vatican luxury cars and replaced them with affordable midsize models. He has removed the title of monsignor from the hierarchy of the priesthood. He has selected cardinals from predominately third-world countries. His...
David Kalas
We’ve all read job postings and help-wanted ads. We have probably had occasion to compose and post a few ourselves. And so we are well-acquainted with the genre.
In a typical listing for some job, there is both a description of the position that’s available and a description of the kind of person desired to fill it. The former helps the reader see if it’s what he or she is looking for. The latter helps the reader recognize whether he or she is what the employer is looking for.
Invariably, the employer is looking for certain positive attributes and abilities. Fluent in this and trained in that. Able to, proficient in, qualified for. Experience, attitude, availability. The employer is looking for a variety of positive qualities and qualifications.
In a typical listing for some job, there is both a description of the position that’s available and a description of the kind of person desired to fill it. The former helps the reader see if it’s what he or she is looking for. The latter helps the reader recognize whether he or she is what the employer is looking for.
Invariably, the employer is looking for certain positive attributes and abilities. Fluent in this and trained in that. Able to, proficient in, qualified for. Experience, attitude, availability. The employer is looking for a variety of positive qualities and qualifications.
Sandra Herrmann
An epiphany is a moment of clarity. We may be struck by a new idea about the Atonement, or about how to make someone’s work easier. We may suddenly realize that the person arguing with us over a bit of theology in our latest sermon wanted to be a pastor years ago but could not follow that path. We may be in the middle of preaching and have an impulse to share a story, realizing that it will make a point more digestible to many in the congregation. These are all epiphanies.
David Coffin
“Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained along the path of righteousness. Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness” Proverbs 16:31. While this might hold true in certain areas of the Ancient Near East, try telling this to an upper middle-aged person in America who has “aged out” of their job in an organization, or no longer has a “made for TV” face. A daily look in the mirror reminds people that the body grows old, as does the mind. Gray hair can translate into a termination pink slip for those whose facial persona shows signs of wrinkled skin, graying hair can translate to more visits to the medical community. The good news of today’s texts is we are always invited to remain as a citizen of the covenant community or kingdom of Heaven.
Schuyler Rhodes
In 1993 brothers Tom and David Gardner began a financial information service they named The Motley Fool. Dressed in their trademark court jester hats, the motley fools can be seen and heard offering their advice and warnings concerning the stock market on a variety of talk shows and financial news channels. According to their official website, their name "derives from Elizabethan drama where only the court jester (the 'fool') could tell the king the truth without getting his head lopped off." In offering their advice, Tom and David promise not to lie, but they do "reserve the right to be wrong, stupid, or even foolish."
People tend to say in times of personal or community disaster, "God works in mysterious ways." The point they are making is that when we can't figure out any logical answer to a situation, it must be the work of God. It is one way of making sense out of an inexplicable event.
Our lessons for this Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany highlight the ways of God that are totally mysterious because they are so unlike the way the world around us functions. Yet, what is striking about these lessons is that they make their point about the uniqueness of God in order to stress what is good. They redefine what God desires, what God considers power and wisdom, and the kinds of people who receive divine blessing. In so doing, they turn the world on its ear.
Micah 6:1-8
Our lessons for this Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany highlight the ways of God that are totally mysterious because they are so unlike the way the world around us functions. Yet, what is striking about these lessons is that they make their point about the uniqueness of God in order to stress what is good. They redefine what God desires, what God considers power and wisdom, and the kinds of people who receive divine blessing. In so doing, they turn the world on its ear.
Micah 6:1-8
David Kalas
We have a prejudice in favor of things complex. Not that we necessarily desire complexity, but somehow we trust it more. We figure that complexity is the prevailing reality in our world, and so we feel obliged to be in touch with it. We would love to hear that this thing or that is really quite simple, but doctors, politicians, futurists, ethicists, economists -- and even some preachers -- keep discouraging us. It's actually quite complicated, we are told, and there is no simple answer.
In our world, complexity is exalted over simplicity. The person who offers a simple solution is the person who has not grasped the complexity of the problem. Complex organisms are more highly evolved than simple ones. "Go Fish" is simple; chess is complex.
In response, we continually...
In our world, complexity is exalted over simplicity. The person who offers a simple solution is the person who has not grasped the complexity of the problem. Complex organisms are more highly evolved than simple ones. "Go Fish" is simple; chess is complex.
In response, we continually...
Lectionary Commentary and Sermon Illustrations
Emphasis Preaching Journal provides in-depth lectionary-based commentary on lectionary texts, plus thousands of sermon illustrations to help you create riveting sermons.For over 45 years, Emphasis has provided subscribers with scripturally sound, lectionary-based commentaries and sermon illustrations that connect with the people in the pews.
For each week, Emphasis writers delve into the heart of the lectionary readings, providing you with several fresh, solid ideas -- based squarely on the lectionary texts -- for creating sermons that speak powerfully to your audience. They look for overall themes that hold the readings together. Then, they zero in on the themes and the specific scripture links, suggesting directions for the sermon and worship service. Since a single idea each week may not provide what you are looking for at that particular time, writers suggest several, giving you the opportunity to select the one that matches your specific needs.
