The Sixth Sunday after PentecostMark 5:21–43 Mark the Evangelist uses a very special literary technique, sometimes called interpolation, inclusio, or chiastic structure, but more commonly referred to as a Markan Sandwich. A Markan Sandwich is when Mark takes one story, cuts it in two, and stuffs another story in between the two halves. One story, … [Read more…]
The Seventh Sunday of EasterActs 1:15–26 We are almost at the end of our seven-week Eastertide journey through Acts. So it is a little strange that this morning we’re jumping back to the beginning. Out of all of the readings we will touch this season, the one this morning comes earliest. It comes even before … [Read more…]
The Sixth Sunday of EasterActs 10:44–48 We’re continuing our Eastertide journey through the book of Acts. We haven’t read it yet this season, but one of the first things that happens in the Book of Acts is the Pentecost. This is when the Holy Spirit descends on the apostles and they speak in tongues. That’s … [Read more…]
The Fifth Sunday of EasterActs 8:26–40 All through the seven weeks of the Easter Season we are focusing on the fifth book of the New Testament, the Acts of the Apostles, the sequel to the Gospel of Luke. We’ve heard about the early church sharing their possessions so that no one was in need. We’ve … [Read more…]
The Fourth Sunday of EasterActs 4:1-20 We are in the third week of our Eastertide journey through the Book of Acts, which is the sequel to the Gospel of Luke. Two weeks ago, we heard from the end of chapter four about how the early church in Jerusalem shared their possessions so that no one … [Read more…]
The Second Sunday of EasterActs 4:32–35 After journeying through the reflective and penitential season of Lent, after celebrating the joy of resurrection on Easter Morning, we are now in the Season of Easter. Easter isn’t just one Sunday, it lasts for seven weeks, eight Sundays. A week of weeks, it is sometimes called, or the … [Read more…]
Easter SundayMark 16:1–8 “Overcome with terror and dread, they fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.” They were expecting to find a corpse. And they knew how to handle a corpse. Early on the morning of the first Easter, those three women, Mary Magdalene, the other Mary, and Salome, … [Read more…]
Maundy ThursdayMark 14:12–31 It is Holy Week, and this year we hear Mark’s version of events. On Sunday, Jesus comes triumphantly into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey, with people waiving palm branches and declaring him a new king in the line of King David. He takes a look around and then goes back to the … [Read more…]
Palm-Passion SundayMark 11:1–11 It’s all a misunderstanding. Back in chapter 8 of Mark, Jesus had talked with his disciples about who he is and what he is meant to do. He asked them, “Who do people say that I am?” “They think that you’re John the Baptist, or Elijah, or one of the other prophets.” … [Read more…]
The Fifth Sunday in LentPsalm 51:1–12 I’m doing something this morning that I don’t usually do; I’m preaching from the Psalm. Generally speaking, all things being equal, my favorite kind of text to preach is the gospel. It is the stories of Jesus, for me, the very heart of our faith. Plus, there are four … [Read more…]