15th Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 20, Year CLuke 16:1-13Sept. 21, 2025 If this morning’s Gospel reading left you scratching your head, you can take comfort in the head scratching of many a preacher and scholar throughout history. Rather than take you through a class on Greek, ancient culture, and Roman social structure, let’s just say … Continue reading The Pivot
14th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C Proper 19 Sept. 14, 2025 Luke 15:1-10 Today is what we might call “grumbling and rejoicing” Sunday or “Lost and Found” Sunday. Kind of like the way Marty hides a Yeti in our weekly newsletter–prompting us to look for the lost! I will say that some among us clearly … Continue reading Grumblers and Rejoicers
13th Sunday after Pentecost Proper 18, Year C Sept. 7, 2025 Well, my first thought upon reading today’s Gospel was that Jesus really could have used a PR manager. If he was hoping to recruit disciples and rally the crowd to his cause, turning to a large gathering of people whose culture was rooted in … Continue reading Discipleship–Risky Business
8th Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 13August 3, 2025Luke 12:13-21 I have said many, many times, there is a song for everything. If you’ve been around me long enough, you’ve probably already discovered that I will burst into song in the middle of a conversation about any given topic. Today’s Gospel reading has had me singing … Continue reading Bigger Barns and Mountains of Things
7th Sunday After Pentecost, Proper 12 July 27, 2025 Luke 11:1-13 How many of you like Dr. Pepper? I mean, we’re Texans. It’s a requirement to like Dr. Pepper and HEB, isn’t it? So suppose you really want a Dr. Pepper. You’ve been out in the Texas heat and you want, you may be tempted … Continue reading What Is Prayer?
6th Sunday After Pentecost, Proper 11 Jul 20, 2025 Colossians 1:15-28Luke 10:38-42 This may date me, I can’t help but read today’s Gospel without hearing Martha, Martha, Martha. And, how do we solve a problem like Maria? I just want to say, as an oldest daughter, I get Martha. And to be fair, Jesus was … Continue reading The Good Part
5th Sunday after Pentecost Jul 13, 2025 Luke 10: 25-37 We all love a good story, don’t we? And today’s Gospel contains a story most of us have heard many times. So popular that even non-Christians have heard of it. Google Good Samaritan and you might find a reference to the Bible verse, but also … Continue reading Go and Do Likewise
4th Sunday after Pentecost Jul 6, 2025 Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 When I worked for Compassion International, God turned my understanding of mission and hospitality upside down. Shook the “white savior” notions out of me in profound ways. Everywhere I went, in the world and in the US, many of the poor had a dependence on … Continue reading Instruments of Peace
And may God bless you
with enough foolishness
to believe that you can
make a difference in the world, Continue reading Virtues and Vices
Trinity Sunday, Year C June 15, 2025 Today is known and celebrated in many Christian denominations as Trinity Sunday. Happy three-in-one and one-in-three Day! Now, in our household of a biblical writer, a liturgist, and a priest, how to define the Trinity is a common discussion at the dinner table–only to be resolved with, “I … Continue reading Sacred Three
Magdalena's Musings 