While we’re on the topic of public education… Okay, so we weren’t on that topic, but rather Luther’s understanding of good government. Last week I cited Luther’s urgent appeal to the city councils and magistrates of Germany to establish schools as an example of what government was...
Christ the King C: What Kind of King Do You Want?
posted by DJL
Luke 23:33-43 Dear Partner in Preaching, “What kind of king do you want?” In one sense, this is the question Jesus put before those crucify him. Keep in mind that just days earlier the crowds of Jerusalem had greeted Jesus as their king, rolling out the “red carpet” as it were by spreading their cloaks on the road, and receiving him as the one sent by the Lord (Luke 19:36-40). And now he is rejected, derided by the leaders of the people, then the soldiers, and even one of the criminals next to them. They mock his titles, asking why, if he is Messiah, chosen One, and King, he does not save himself. “What kind of king do you want?”...
Good Government
posted by DJL
“Since the property, honor, and life of the whole city have been committed to the faithful keeping [of the council and authorities], they would be remiss in their duty before God and [people] if they did not seek its welfare and improvement day and night with all the means at their...
Pentecost 26 C: Joy in November
posted by DJL
Luke 21:5-9 Dear Partner in Preaching, Want to shake things up a little bit this Sunday and invite a fresh hearing of an extremely challenging Gospel reading? Then move the hymn of the day to before the sermon and sing “Joy to the World.” Now, I suspect I know what you’re thinking: why would we sing a Christmas carol in mid November? The truth is, however, that “Joy to the World” wasn’t originally composed for Christmas but was part of hymn writer Isaac Watts’ attempt to translate, and set to new music, the Psalms for Christian worship. Watts’ inspiration for this hymn was Psalm 98, the Psalm appointed for this day....
All Saints’ Sunday C: Saintly Vulnerability
posted by DJL
A quick note: I’ll be reflecting on the Gospel appointed for All Saints’ Sunday but will put links here to a commentary and reflection I’ve written on Luke 20:27-28 (Pentecost 25 C) below. Luke 6:20-31 Dear Partner in Preaching, There is a reason that Luke describes Jesus preaching his most famous sermon from a plain rather than a mountain. Have you ever noticed that? That what we routinely call the “Sermon on the Mount” isn’t delivered from a mountain in Luke’s Gospel? That is what happens in Matthew’s story, but not Luke’s. Jesus does indeed go up a mountain in Luke’s account, but it is in order to pray, and after a...