“An Awake Church” (A01: First Sunday of Advent)
Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44 Genau lays forth a vision of what awake churches do — and don’t do. “An awake church,” says Genau, “doesn’t wait for God to act to bring...
“The King’s Hospitality” (C52: Proper 29)
Jeremiah 23:1-6 and Luke 1:68-79; Jeremiah 23:1-6 and Psalm 46; Colossians 1:11-20; Luke 23:33-43 Kirby examines the meanings of “royalty” and then asks, “What does it mean to call Jesus a king when he...
“The Shadow Will Not Prevail” (C51: Proper 28)
Isaiah 65:17-25 and Isaiah 12; Malachi 4:1-2a and Psalm 98; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13; Luke 21:5-19 Redditt explores Malachi, the end of the Hebrew Bible, and what its “Sun of Righteousness” can mean for those living...
“The Strong Stand Firm” (C50: Proper 27)
Haggai 1:15b-2:9 and Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21 or Psalm 98; Job 19:23-27a and Psalm 17:1-9; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17; Luke 20:27-38 Herron says: “Reading these lines from the letter to the church in Thessalonica helps us...
“A Drip Before a Roll” (C49: Proper 26)
Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4 and Psalm 119:137-144; Isaiah 1:10-18 and Psalm 32:1-7; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12; Luke 19:1-10 Harrington focuses on how “the lectionary pairs this heavy lament of Habakkuk’s with the familiar story of Zacchaeus.”...
“Don’t Other. Smother.” (C48: Proper 25)
Joel 2:23-32 and Psalm 65; Sirach 35:12-17 or Jeremiah 14:7-10, 19-22 and Psalm 84:1-7; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18; Luke 18:9-14 Whitaker uses her Aunt Joy, who is a “smotherer,” to call listeners to love and...