forgiveness – A Preacher’s Ponderings

Mustard seeds, again

The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost; 2 October 2022; Proper 22C (RCL); Lamentations 1:1-6; Lamentations 3:19-26; 2 Timothy 1:1-14; Luke 17:5-10.

The “parable” of the mulberry tree is confusing. Why would anyone want to plant a mulberry tree in the middle of the sea, anyway? I think Luke may be mixing sayings here; both Mark and Matthew have Jesus make a statement about having faith and saying to this mountain be cast into the sea and it would obey. That at least makes a little sense — but planting trees in the sea?

Forgiveness?

Seventh Sunday after Epiphany; 20 February 2022; Epiphany 7C (RCL); Genesis 45:3-11, 15; Psalm 37:1-12, 41-42; 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50; Luke 6:27-38.

I suspect the designers of the lectionary linked the Genesis reading to the Gospel reading, figuring that Joseph was a good example of forgiving egregious wrongs. However, I find the figure of Joseph rather troubling, and I suspect the editors of the Pentateuch also found him troubling.

Debt or gift

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost; 13 September 2020; Proper 19A (RCL); Exodus 14:19-31; Psalm 114; Romans 14:1-12; Matthew 18:21-35.

This passage in Matthew’s Gospel follows on from the reading last week about working out issues in community. So Peter asks how many times he must forgive a brother or sister. Jesus tells a parable that could be about much more than just forgiving slights or injuries. Money serves as the basis for the lesson of the parable.