Category: Church Year
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No Kings Sunday?
Palm Sunday (Sunday of the Passion), Year A—March 29, 2026 The Liturgy of the PalmsMatthew 21:1-11; Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29The Liturgy of the WordIsaiah 50:4-9a; Philippians 2:5-11; Matthew 26:14- 27:66 or Matthew 27:11-54; Psalm 31:9-16 We call it Jesus’ “Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem,” but to read the description in the Gospels, that’s…
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I mean, Jesus was a day late, too!
The Fifth Sunday in Lent, Year A—March 22, 2026 The weekend got away from me; I’m posting this a day late. (Sound familiar, though?) I have a beautifully creepy song for you to listen to while you read this—or, better yet, to close your eyes and listen to. It’s based…
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The Lord does not see as mortals see
The Fourth Sunday in Lent, Year A—March 15, 2026 The story of David’s anointing by Samuel always amuses me. God tells Samuel not to look on the outward appearance of Jesse’s sons, because that’s not a factor in who God chooses. Unlike human beings, God isn’t distracted by looks, but…
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God, I’m thirsty
The Third Sunday in Lent, Year A—March 8, 2026 I hate Lent. …Stick with me, though. At least in the Episcopal Church, we do so much chest-beating—perhaps not literally, but if you pay attention to the words we’re praying, saying, and singing, you should see it. The season doubles down…
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Acting on Faith
The Second Sunday in Lent—March 1, 2026 Today’s readings point us back to Israel’s history, hopefully reminding us that Christianity descends from Israelite faith, but also requires a reinterpretation of that tradition for Gentile believers in Jesus. But these readings can remind us of a feature of that tradition we…
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When Jesus shows up
The First Sunday in Lent—February 22, 2026 Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7Romans 5:12-19Matthew 4:1-11Psalm 32 This post is a bit late. No, I haven’t given up this blog for Lent. The truth is, I spent my time this weekend prepping for and leading a 10-hour workshop through the seminary where I teach.…
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On Being a City on a Hill
The Fifth Sunday afther the Epiphany—February 8, 2026 Isaiah 58:1-9a, [9b-12]Psalm 112:1-9, (10)1 Corinthians 2:1-12, [13-16]Matthew 5:13-20 Although my field is theological aesthetics, I teach church history (technically, historical theology, which makes it not so far off from theology). We recently covered the Council of Nicaea where, at the behest…
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Simple. But not easy.
The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany—February 1, 2026 “Lord, who can dwell in your tabernacle?” the Psalmist (rhetorically) inquires. His answer is daunting: Whoever leads a blameless life and does what is right, who speaks the truth from his heart.There is no guile upon his tongue; he does no evil…
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On the Road by the Sea
The Third Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A—January 25, 2026 Today’s Gospel passage starts out dark: Jesus is just hearing that John the Baptist has been arrested. “He withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea,” reports Matthew, who works the plot for…
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This is not the Lamb you think you seek
The Second Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A—January 17, 2026 Today’s Gospel begins in the second day of a three-day sequence in the ministry of John the Baptist: It seems that the author of this Gospel is taking some pains to sideline the Baptist. He has John say several times,…
The Sound 