9th Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 12 - 07/30/2023

 

Readings for today (Track 1)

Do you recall a movie called ‘Amazing Grace’ that came out in the early 2000s?  It tells the story of William Wilberforce, who is remembered by The Episcopal Church today, July 30, as a social reformer. Born into wealth in Yorkshire, England in 1759. Educated at Cambridge. Elected to the House of Commons at the age of 21.  By all accounts, charming, eloquent and persuasive.  Encouraged by his colleagues in politics not to abandon his faith-fueled activism. Wilberforce crusaded uncompromisingly and single-mindedly for the abolition of slavery and the slave trade for the entirety of his 45 years in Parliament.  The Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 had its final reading in the House of Commons just 3 days before his death, and became law the following year.

7th Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 10 - 07/16/2023

 Readings for today (Track 1).

‘In my mind’s eye, I see today’s gospel story unfolding on a nearby beach - maybe Golden Gardens or Lake Washington.  It’s a beautiful day like today.  Jesus goes out and sits beside the water to teach the people.  When the crowd gathered becomes unmanageable, he gets into a boat and moves a little offshore.  I think it’s actually Lake Washington, fewer waves and no current so the boat stays in one place.  Jesus sits in the boat, just far enough out so that everyone can see and hear him.  He begins to teach in parables.    

Today’s parable of the sower is the first of many we will hear from Matthew in the next few months.  Using parables, Jesus unpacks the depths and richness of the kingdom with metaphors that would be familiar to his audience: farming, animal husbandry, household chores, vineyards.  Each parable is like a seed, falling on the soil of our hearts and minds.

5th Sunday after Pentecost - 07/01/2023

Readings for today (Proper 8, Track 1)

As a parent, I cannot skip over the near-sacrifice of Isaac in Genesis.  Reading this story several thousand years later, on the other side of the world, from a fully industrialized and city-centered life, this story is horrifying!