July 2023 – A Preacher’s Ponderings

What shall separate us?

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost; 30 July 2023; Proper 12A (RCL); Genesis 29:15-28; Psalm 105:1-11, 45b; Romans 8:26-39; Matthew 13:21-34, 44-52.

Who doesn’t love this passage from Romans, with its assurance that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ? The list sounds pretty extreme, so surely nothing we face can compare. But for Paul hardship, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or the sword was a catalog of dangers he had faced personally (see 2 Corinthians 11:21-29 — five times he received the forty lashes less one, and then a whole list of other trials). And yet, he was confident of the gospel he preached.

Labor pains

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost; 23 July 2023; Proper 11A (RCL); Genesis 28:10-19a; Psalm 139:1-11, 22-23; Romans 18:12-25; Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43.

More on wheat and tares below, but I want to start with the Romans reading. Paul’s theological vision is stunning. Creation is not yet complete; it is coming to birth. And it was subjected to futility by none other than God. What can this mean?

Flesh/Spirit

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost; 16 July 2023; Proper 10A (RCL); Genesis 25:19-34; Psalm 119:105-112; Romans 8:1-11: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23.

I’ve always found (and still do find) the parable of the sower a little bit troubling. Sowing seed was often used in the ancient world as a metaphor for teaching, but in most cases, the focus of the metaphor was on the careful preparation of the soil. The philosopher/teacher spent a great deal of care in preparation of the soil, so that the implanted seed would take root and bear fruit.

Is Paul crazy?

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost; 9 July 2023; Proper 9A (RCL); Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67; Psalm 45:11-18; Romans 7:15-25a; Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30.

We abbreviate the story of Abraham’s servant and Rebekah for the sake of liturgical reading, but it is one of the most complete novellas in the Old Testament. And after reading it, can there be any doubt that John is copying the plot of this standard story in the episode of the Samaritan woman at the well? It is interesting, however, that after the events of last Sunday’s lection (call it the Sacrifice of Isaac, or the Obedience of Abraham, or what you will) that Abraham and Isaac never speak again in the story.