Mark 1:1-8 Dear Partner in Preaching, I don’t know if it’s COVID-fatigue or something else, but I seem to have even less patience with the RCL-assigned readings for Advent than usual. A week of eschatological warning, two weeks of the adult John the Baptist, and then – finally on week four! – a reading that actually pertains to the Christmas story. I know, I know, week 1 is intended both to anticipate Jesus’ second Advent at the end of time as well as accent Advent’s theme of watchful anticipation and preparation and weeks 2 & 3 to emphasize the Gospels own casting of John as the Elijah-figure prophesized to come ahead...

When Sermon Brainwave came out a half dozen or so years ago, people would always ask where the name came from. And I’d offer the rather goofy answer that I spent a lot of time reading the Harry Potter books to my kids and one of my favorite British phrases (along with “trainers” for “sneakers”) was “brainwave,” meaning a seriously good idea. And so when I first thought about doing a weekly podcast on the lectionary texts, I thought Sermon Brainwave would capture my hope to offer a few good ideas (or at least mildly entertaining notions) about the lectionary readings for the coming week. That is, you wouldn’t be getting...