Mary and Martha

Life and death

Fifth Sunday in Lent; 26 March 20023; Lent 5A (RCL); Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 130; Romans 8:6-11; John 11:1-45.

The story of the raising of Lazarus has always puzzled me, and continues to do so. I think that’s partly what John intended. There is no single meaning or interpretation of the story, but it is meant to pose unanswerable questions. At the heart of my puzzlement are the verbs used in v. 33. The NRSV translates, “he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved.” The Greek would be better translated “he was indignant in spirit and agitated,” when he sees the commotion around Lazarus’ tomb.

One thing

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost; 24 July 2022; Proper 11C (RCL); Amos 8:1-12; Psalm 52; Colossians 1:15-28; Luke 10:38-42.

The Amos passage is again hard to hear, perhaps even harder than last week. The word play is on “summer fruit” and “end.” The NIV catches the play. God asks Amos what he sees, and he replies, “A basket of ripe fruit.” God replies, “The time is ripe for my people Israel.” God will make an end of Israel. Amos does not provide an image of any hope held out for God’s people. Worst of all is the famine for hearing God’s word — God is no longer found among God’s people. Nothing is left.

21 July 2019
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
Proper 11C (RCL)
Amos 8:1-12
Psalm 52
Colossians 1:15-28
Luke 10:38-42

Oh, we don’t like the story of Mary and Martha. Someone has to wash the dishes, right? If Martha doesn’t bang those pots and pans, Jesus will not be welcomed as necessary in her house, right? But Jesus doesn’t seem to give her a pass by honoring the work she is doing. Continue reading “Mary and Martha”