“Blessed Are You Who Mourn” (A49: All Saints Day)
Revelation 7:9-17 and Psalm 34:1-10, 22; 1 John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12 Campbell-Reed reflects on All Saints’ Sunday through the lens of grief. She connects sainthood with “sinner-saints,” challenges heroic ideas of calling, and presents mourning...
“Whose Side Is God On?” (A48: Proper 25)
Leviticus 19:1-2,15-18; Psalm 1; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8; Matthew 22:34-46 Cheuk warns against turning faith into a weapon for our own agendas. In Matthew, Jesus dodges a rhetorical trap by centering love of God and neighbor,...
“A Litmus Test for the Ages” (A47: Proper 24)
Isaiah 45:1-7; Psalm 96:1-9,(10-13); 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10; Matthew 22:15-22 Callaway argues that Roger Williams’ vision of “soul liberty” offers a prophetic model for navigating faith, politics, and conscience. She explores Jesus’ response to a question...
“Blessings or … Spoils?” (A44: Proper 21)
Ezekiel 18:1-4,25-32; Psalm 25:1-9; Philippians 2:1-13; Matthew 21:23-32 Freemyer interprets Matthew 21:23-32 as a confrontation between Jesus and religious elites who protect power through hypocrisy. Freemyer’s s sermon contrasts those who claim righteousness but refuse...
“Jesus and the Working Poor” (A43: Proper 20)
Jonah 3:10–4:11; Psalm 145:1-8; Philippians 1:21-30; Matthew 20:1-16 De La Torre explores the story of the “workers in the vineyard” from Matthew 20, and he says we need to stop “spiritualizing” the meaning. Instead, De...