-
Keep listening and don’t give up (a sermon on the Transfiguration, Luke 9:28-36)
Hi friends, I wanted to share with y’all a sermon I got to guest preach last weekend. It’s on the biblical story of the Transfiguration, with the current U.S. political context very much in mind. Working through this text helped me see some glimmers of hope in a difficult time, and I hope it might…
-
Feminist reflections on the resurrected Jesus (a sermon on Luke 24:36b-48)
Hi friends, Last month I had the great joy of being warmly welcomed into a new-to-me church to speak. Plus I got to take a ferry ride to get there, and meet Oscar the Bird King after! At the gracious suggestion of the pastor who invited me to preach, I spoke quite a bit from…
-
On wealth, poverty, and caring without being overwhelmed (reflections on Luke 16:19-31)
16:19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 16:20 And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 16:21 who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and…
-
Gutsy faithfulness in a world where money fails (reflections on Luke 16:1-13)
I’ve got another church eblast reflection for you all – unabridged (read: slightly longer) version! This one’s on Luke 16:1-13: 16:1 Then Jesus said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. 16:2 So he summoned him and…
-
Switch those seats (reflections on Luke 14:1,7-14)
On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely. When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do…
-
The unbound woman (reflections on Luke 13:10-17)
Now Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Woman, you are set…
-
Post at Feminism & Religion – Jesus, temptation, and gender
I’ve enjoyed being able to contribute a couple of articles to Feminism & Religion in the last couple months. Here’s another! It’s about the second temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, as told in Luke 4. We talked about this passage in a church small group a few weeks back, and our conversation got me…
-
God lifts the lowly: reflections on Mary’s song
46 “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50…
-
Look up, receive sight: a community-minded take on Zacchaeus
I’m thankful for another opportunity to give a brief sermon at my church, Lake Burien Presbyterian. If you prefer a video version, it’s on YouTube here, and my part starts around 40:15. Here’s the passage—it’s a long one, since we’re using this thing called the “Narrative Lectionary,” which tends to look at longer passages of…
-
To dust you will return: the Good Samaritan, Martha, and Lent
Below is the text of Luke 10:25-42, followed by a brief reflection, an edited version of which is a part of my church’s Lenten devotional series. The idea of the series is to connect narrative passages from the book of Luke to Lenten ideas like lament, fasting, sorrow, repentance, and humility, and to reflect on…