sin – A Preacher’s Ponderings

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.

Sin and sight

Fourth Sunday in Lent; 19 March 2023; Lent 4A (RCL); 1 Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41.

This episode in John’s Gospel provides a prime example of how the whole Gospel is structured, with the beginning and the end of the story as reflections of one another (the question of the blind man’s sin, bracketed by the question of the Pharisee’s sight). Along the way, John changes the definitions of both sin and sight, and frames them in reference to Jesus alone.