Thoughts on Sunday’s Lessons for March 13, 2022 (Lent 2C)

First Reading: Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

Sunday’s Lectionary readings celebrate our hope in God, even in times of darkness. Last Sunday’s first reading from Deuteronomy about God’s covenant with the chosen people was easy to understand:

Give thanks to God with the first fruits of the harvest, not just what’s left over after the feast. Be good to our neighbors and to the poor. The covenant with Abram from Genesis is a little harder to engage with modern ways of thinking, with its talk about sacrificing livestock and poultry to please the Holy One. Looking past the temple traditions of the Bronze Age in the ancient Near East, though, we see what endures: God’s promise stays with us always, even when the darkness seems deep and terrifying.

Psalm: Psalm 27

As we chant this Psalm, try to hear its pattern of trust, hope and petition. First it simply declares our trust in God, our light and salvation, whose strength is so great that nothing can stand against it to make us afraid. But then it takes a darker turn as we hear an earthly king – King David, according to tradition – imagining frightening possibilities, from flesh-eating evildoers to camps full of enemy warriors. Yes, terrible things might threaten us, but the Psalm carries on, trusting God, calling on God to have mercy and keep us safe. Even when we feel under attack, beset with dangers and real-life fears, we can place our confidence in God and ask for God’s protection.

Second Reading: Philippians 3:17-4:1

The people of the church in Philippi in northern Greece had endured much in order to embrace the Christian way. Like the people in Psalm 27, they worried about earthly fears and persecution by their enemies. But Paul reassures them with pastoral advice that might recall the Psalmist’s wisdom: Look to God, through Christ, for our salvation. Stand firm in our faith and find meaning in our lives by making every effort to live as Christ would have us live.

Gospel: Luke 13:31-35

Since the end of the ninth chapter of Luke’s Gospel, Jesus and his followers have been on a long journey from Galilee to Jerusalem, teaching and healing and arguing with opponents along the way. Now as they draw closer to their destination, some friendly Pharisees warn Jesus that King Herod wants to kill him. Jesus won’t alter his chosen course, though, even if it will lead to death in Jerusalem (which he calls the “city that kills the prophets”). His journey may threaten his life, yet he speaks of his love for the city in a nurturing, motherly image of a hen and her chicks.

Thoughts on Sunday’s Lessons for March 17, 2019

First Reading: Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

Even in times of darkness and fear, we hold on to our hope and trust in God.

In Sunday’s first reading, Abram is worried because he and his wife Sarai remain childless in old age. Will they have to adopt a slave child to receive the inheritance that God has promised? But God comes to Abram with reassuring words: “Do not be afraid … I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” God takes Abram outside to look at the countless stars, and assures him that he and Sarai – who we will know as Abraham and Sarah – will begin a family as countless as the stars; a family that will inherit the promised land to which God has brought them.

Psalm: Psalm 27

Pslam 27 echoes the message of God’s covenant with Abraham: Even when we feel under attack, beset with dangers and real-life fears, we place our confidence in God and ask for God’s protection. We sing of our trust in God, our light and salvation, whose strength is so great that nothing can stand against it. Yes, bad things sometimes do happen to good people. That is the way of our lives. But we ask God’s to show us the way and lead us on a level path, and we trust that God will be with us both in bad times and good.

Second Reading: Philippians 3:17-4:1

The people of the church in Philippi in northern Greece had endured much to embrace the Christian way. They wrestled with fear as they faced persecution by their enemies. But Paul reassures them pastorally in words that might remind us of the Psalmist’s wisdom: Look to God, through Christ, for our salvation. Stand firm in our faith and find meaning in our lives by making every effort to live as Christ would have us live: Christ is the one who will transform us.

Gospel: Luke 13:31-35

We are well into Lent now, and Sunday’s Gospel tells us of friendly Pharisees warning Jesus that King Herod wants to kill him. But Jesus, calling Herod “that fox,” presses forward in his long journey from Galilee to Jerusalem and his death on the cross. In order to have the resurrection and its promise, Jesus first must die. But then, in the middle of this dark and foreboding passage, there is a magical image that we cannot overlook: Jesus describes himself as a mother hen protecting her brood under her wings! This is not the strong, manly Good Shepherd guarding his flock, but a nurturing, feminine image that’s just as loving but very different. Reflect on Jesus as a source of gentle motherly love, and expand our vision of Christ for all.

Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Feb. 21, 2016

First Reading: Genesis 15:1-12,17-18

Today’s readings speak to us of hope in God, even in times of darkness. In our first reading, Abram is worried because he and his wife Sarai remain childless in old age. Will they have to adopt a slave child to receive the inheritance that God has promised? But God guides Abram through a dark and terrifying night and, in the new day, assures him that he and Sarai – who we will know as Abraham and Sarah – will begin a family that will inherit the promised land; a family as countless as the stars.

Psalm 27

As we listen to this Psalm, notice its pattern of trust, hope and petition. First it simply declares our trust in God, our light and salvation, whose strength is so great that nothing can stand against it to make us afraid. But then it takes a darker turn as we hear an earthly king – King David, according to tradition – imagining frightening possibilities, from flesh-eating evildoers to camps full of enemy warriors. Yes, terrible things might threaten us, but the Psalm carries on, trusting God, calling on God to have mercy and keep us safe.

Second Reading: Philippians 3:17-4:1


Is Paul telling the Philippians to imitate him, as though he were a stand-in for Christ? Not at all. Rather, hear in these verses a pastor reassuring a congregation that has endured much to embrace the Christian way, and now fears persecution. ‘Do as I do,” he suggests, calling them to follow his example and try to live in Jesus’ way, anticipating salvation through Christ.



Gospel: Luke 13:31-35

As we move into Lent, Jesus has turned his face fully toward Jerusalem, the Passion and the Cross. King Herod is angry, and Jesus’ life is in danger. Even some Pharisees, who often argue and scorn Jesus, seem concerned and warn him to protect himself. But Jesus – perhaps echoing his responses to the tempter in the desert in last week’s Gospel – won’t alter his chosen course, even if it will lead to death in the “city that kills the prophets.” Jerusalem may threaten his life, yet he speaks his love for the city in the nurturing, motherly image of a hen and her chicks.

Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013.

First Reading: Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
Last week’s reading about God’s covenant in Deuteronomy was easy to understand: Give God thanks with the first fruits of the harvest, not just what’s left over after we have feasted. Be good to our neighbors, and to the poor. Today’s covenant from Genesis is a little harder to wrap our modern minds around, with its talk of sacrificing livestock and poultry! But let’s look past the Bronze Age temple practices to find what endures: God’s promise stays with us always, even when the darkness seems deep and terrifying.

Psalm 27
Today’s Psalm continues the message that the Exodus covenant offers: Even when we feel under attack, beset with dangers and real-life fears, we place our confidence in God and ask for God’s protection. Bad things sometimes happen to good people. That is the way of our lives. But we look for God’s goodness in everyday life, and trust that God will be with us in bad times and good.

Second Reading: Philippians 3:17 – 4:1
The Philippians, too, were worrying about earthly fears and persecution by their enemies, but Paul reassures them with pastoral advice that might recall the Psalmist’s wisdom: Look to God, through Christ, for our salvation. Stand firm in our faith and find meaning in our lives by making every effort to live as Christ would have us live.

Gospel: Luke 13:31-35
It is Lent, and we are reminded of crafty King Herod as we follow Jesus toward Jerusalem and his death on the cross, a death that must come before resurrection and its promise. But then, in the middle of this dark and foreboding passage, there is a magical image that we should not overlook: Jesus describes himself as a mother hen protecting her brood under her wings! Not the strong, ruddy Good Shepherd guarding his flock, but a nurturing, feminine image that’s just as loving yet very different. How does it feel to think of Jesus as a source of gentle motherly love? Try reflecting on this as you hear the Gospel today.