Category: Uncategorized

  • Preaching Paths 8 March 2026

    Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary The standard interpretation of Jesus’ encounter with a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s Well presents the woman as an incorrigible “repeat offender.”  Jesus observes that she has “had five husbands,” and “the man you have is not your husband” (v 18). Modern readers often assume that this woman…

  • Preaching Paths  1 March 2026

     Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological  Seminary                   The encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus, a leading Jerusalem Pharisee, is presented as a dialogue—even a sort of interview. Nicodemus’s queries are so brief as to function simply as prompts for sections of Jesus’ discourse, the first of several such discourses in John’s gospel.                   In…

  • 1st March 2026, Lent 2, Year A

    St John 3: 1-17 The mission of Christ: saving the world 3:1 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 3:2 He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs…

  • Preaching Paths 22 February 2026 Lent 1, Year A                                             

    Sally A Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Jesus’ forty-day experience of hunger and testing in the wilderness, following his baptism and before his ministry begins, is the subject of today’s Gospel reading. Matthew’s language aligns closely with Luke’s (Lk 4:1-13); the major difference is that Luke transposes the ordering of the second and third…

  • 22nd February 2026 Lent 1

    Matthew 4: 1-11 The temptation of Jesus 4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tested by the devil. 4:2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was famished. 4:3 The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these…

  • Preaching Paths 15 February 2026

    Sally A. Brown, Professor of Preaching Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary In the verses before us today (Mt 5:21-37), Jesus speaks as any rabbi of his day might have done. To interpret the Law faithfully was a rabbi’s chief responsibility. The formula, “You have heard it said …” was a characteristic rabbinic phrase when one was…

  • Transfiguration Sunday, 15th February 2026

    Matthew 17:1-9 Christ revealed as God’s beloved Son 17:1 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 17:2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became bright as light. 17:3 Suddenly…

  • Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, 8th February 2026

    Matthew 5:13-20 The teaching of Christ: salt and light 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled under foot. 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city…

  • Preaching Paths 8 February 2026 5th Sunday after Epiphany

    Sally A Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Today’s gospel text, Mt 5:13-20, introduces two well-known themes in the Sermon on the Mount. In vv 13-16, Jesus uses metaphors of salt and light to describe his disciples’ role as witnesses to the reign of heaven he ushers into the world. Vv 17-20 concern upholding Jewish…

  •  1st February 2026

    Matthew 5:1-12 5:1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 5:2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they…