Encountering the text: Here we are at last, end of the church year, end of Matthew’s Gospel, the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Right here toward the end of… read more

Encountering the text: Jesus tells a familiar story that begins, “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who was leaving on a trip. He called his servants and handed his… read more

Encountering the text: In rather polite, middle-of-the-road mainline Protestantism, we don’t talk much about judgment. How often do we speak of even the possibility of a… read more

Encountering the text: “You remember,” are the words whereby Paul begins this Sunday’s Epistle lesson. I recommend that even if your church is celebrating All… read more

Encountering the text: Our Gospel for this Sunday is a series of hostile challenges put to Jesus. This sustained attack began in Matthew 21:23. Once again the critics… read more

Encountering the text: In this Sunday’s Epistle lesson from PaulToday’s Gospel is one of the few places in the New Testament that there is a mention of, or even a… read more