Pentecost +7 – Longing for the Kingdom ComeRev. Doug FloydWisdom of Solomon 12:13, 16–19, Psalm 86, Romans 8:18-25, Matthew 13:24-30, 34-43 This week is the seventh Sunday after Pentecost, and fir several weeks we’ve been meditating on Romans 8 and Matthew 13. The Romans 8 passage emphasizes our adoption into the family of God, and…

Pentecost +6 2020Rev. Doug FloydIsaiah 55, Psalm 65, Romans 8:7-17, Matthew 13:1-9;18-23 For as the rain and the snow come down from heavenand do not return there but water the earth,making it bring forth and sprout,giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;it shall not return to me empty,but it…

Pentecost +5 2020Rev. Doug FloydZechariah 9:9–12, Psalm 145, Romans 7:21–8:6, Matthew 11:25–30 Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) This is good news. Exceedingly good news. Think of the Hebrew slaves under the burdens of Egyptian rule. Pharaoh ordering Hebrews babies to be killed. The people groaning under the…

Pentecost +4 2020Rev. Doug FloydIsaiah 2:10–17, Psalm 89:1-18, Romans 6:1-14, Matthew 10:34–42 Back in 2009, I led a series of discussions of Torah and the Workplace with a group of businessmen I knew. It gave me a chance to think through some ideas about how worship shapes practices even in the marketplace and how Baalism…

Pentecost +3Rev. Doug FloydJeremiah 20:7-13, Psalm 69:1-18, Romans 5:12-21, Matthew 10;16-33 Our lessons this week carry the weight of threat and even anguish. Jeremiah cries out to God after the priest Pashhur has him beaten and put in stocks for speaking the Word of the Lord the people. He has been warning the people of…

Pentecost +2 2020 – It Is He That Made UsRev. Doug FloydExodus 19:1-8, Psalm 100, Romans 5:1-11, Matthew 9:35-10:15 At times, we are so aware of all the pain and anger in our world that we forget the world is a song of praise to our God. Our Psalm today captures this explosive, joyful praise.…

Trinity Sunday 2020Rev. Doug FloydGenesis 1:1–2:3, Psalm 150, Romans 1:18-25, Matthew 28:16-20 This morning, we are celebrating Trinity Sunday. We just a wonderful reading of the creation story. The lectionary has brought two of these stories together, the Trinity and the Creation. First, we’ll just think briefly of the Gospel reading that Isaac just read…

Pentecost 2020Rev. Doug FloydActs 2:1–11, Psalm 104:25-37, 1 Corinthians 12:4-13, John 20:19-23 In the Eastern Orthodox icon of Pentecost, there are twelve disciples seated in a semi-circle. They are waiting in the upper room for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Upon closer inspection, we might notice that the two disciples at the top of…

Easter 7 2020Rev. Doug FloydActs 1:1–14, Psalm 47, 1 Peter 4:12-19, John 17:1-11 Last year during Eastertide, the second lesson each week was from the book of Revelation. Revelation tells the church that the risen Christ is standing right there in the midst. The churches are in all different situations. Some are having internal conflicts; some are being persecuted; some are tempted…

Easter 6 2020Acts 17:22-34, Psalm 148, 1 Peter 3:8–18, John 15:1-11 In today’s lessons, we heard Paul’s sermon at Athens. He promises to reveal the unknown god who they have already been worshipping and proceeds to use their own writers to point to Jesus as the fulfillment of their longing. For instance, he quotes, “In…