A Short Lesson

2 Corinthians 12:20

I'm afraid that I may come and find you different from what I want you to be...
I'm afraid that there may be rivalry, jealousy, hot tempers, selfish ambition,
slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly conduct.

James 3:13-18

Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that
your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter
envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the
truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly,
unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there
will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from
above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and
good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of
righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.

Readings for Sunday June 28, 2009 (Year B Proper 8)

These are our readings for Sunday June 28, 2009.

Christ and the Woman wit the Issue of Blood
Paolo Veronese, 1565-70

Readings for Sunday June 21, 2009 (Year B Proper 7)

These are our readings for Sunday June 21, 2009.

When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

"Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?"

How was the reaction of the Israelite army to the taunts of Goliath, the Philistine champion, like the reaction of the apostles to the storm that abruptly arose on the Sea of Galilee?

They didn't have faith in God despite all they had seen and heard.

Jesus Calming the Sea Mark 4:37-39

Readings for Sunday June 14, 2009 (Year B Proper 6)

These are our readings for Sunday June 14, 2009.

Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.

Samuel must have been mortified. The people feared him because he knew the ways of God, yet he looked upon Eliab, tall and strong, and thought that God would surely choose him to be king. Whereas Samuel saw only appearances, God sees the contents of the human heart.

Samuel anoints David

Readings for Sunday June 7, 2009 (Trinity Sunday)

These are our readings for Sunday June 7, 2009.

The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit

Visit of Nicodemus to Christ
1880. Oil on canvas. John La Farge

Readings for Sunday May 31, 2009 (Day of Pentecost: Whitsunday)

These are our readings for Pentecost.

I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

What are the things that the Spirit is revealing to us today that we couldn't bear previously? How well do we accept the Spirit's truth?

Pentecost
c. 1516 Pitts Theological Library

Readings for Sunday May 24, 2009 (Year B Easter 7)

These are our readings for Sunday May 24, 2009.

Here is a reflection on the selection of Matthias to replace Judas.

Saint Matthias the Apostle