A Sacred Souvenir

Proper 24 texts at http://www.textweek.com Jeremiah 31:27-34          Genesis 32:22-31          2 Tim. 3:14-4:5          Luke 18:1-8 You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans and have prevailed.        Gen. 32:27 There are many …

Do the Easy Thing

Proper 23 texts at http://www.textweek.com Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7     2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15     2 Tim. 2:8-15     Luke 17:11-19 Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more, when all he said to you was, 'Wash, and be clean'?         2 …

A World at Communion

Proper 22 (World Communion Sunday) texts at http://www.textweek.com Lamentations 1:1-6 or 3:19-26    Psalm 137    Psalm 37:1-92    Tim. 1:1-14    Luke 17:5-10 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; …

Self-Inflicted Wounds

Proper 21 texts at http://www.textweek.com Jeremiah 32:1-3, 6-15        Amos 6:1a, 4-7            1 Tim. 6:6-19          Luke 16:19-31 ... in their eagerness to be rich, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.       1 Tim. 6:10b   …

Isn’t it Ironic?

Proper 20 texts at http://www.textweek.com Jeremiah 8:18-9:1             Amos 8:4-7              1 Tim. 2:1-7               Luke 16:1-13 Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of my poor people not been …

Who Will Go For Us?

Proper 19 texts at http://www.textweek.com. Jeremiah 4:11-12, 12-28     Exodus 32:7-14     Psalm 141     Tim. 1:12-17     Luke 15:1-10 But Moses implored the Lord his God, and said, 'O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people...?      Exodus 32:11a It's no secret that a lot of …

Who Would Win: St. Paul vs. St. Frank

Proper 18 texts at http://www.textweek.com Jeremiah 18:1-11           Deut. 30:15-20              Philemon 1:1-21            Luke 14:25-33 Please note: Today's devotional is an example of Why We Need Editors. Apparently when I first wrote this in 2016, I mistook the "Phil." of Philemon …

One Little Word

Proper 17 texts at http://www.textweek.com Jeremiah 2:4-13         Proverbs 25:6-7         Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16         Luke 14:1, 7-14 “So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?’” Heb. 13:6b, and Psalm 118:6 Some of the littlest …

What Cannot Be Shaken

Proper 16 texts at http://www.textweek.com Jeremiah 1:4-10         Psalm 71:1-6          Hebrews 12:18-29          Luke 13:10-17 This reflection was originally written in August 2016. Election seasons are… let’s say “interesting”… times to reflect on scriptures, especially the ones describing God’s judgment. Each side is sure beyond …

Time Would Fail Me

Proper 15 texts at http://www.textweek.com Isaiah 5:1-7          Jeremiah 23:23-29          Hebrews 11:29-12:2          Luke 12:49-56 Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, …