Category: Uncategorized

  • 6th July 2025, 4th Sunday after Pentecost

    Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 Jesus sends out seventy disciples 10:1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. 10:2 He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of…

  • Preaching Paths 6 July 2025, Proper 9C, Luke 10:1-11,16-20

    Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Getting a clear understanding of the narrative context of today’s lection—geographical, temporal, and cultural—is a first step toward fruitful interpretation of Luke’s story of the “mission of the seventy.”* In the closing verses of ch 9, Jesus has 1) begun his journey to Jerusalem [9:51]; 2) decided…

  • 29th June 2025, Proper 8 (13)C

    St Luke 9:51-62 Jesus says, Follow me 9:51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 9:52 And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to prepare for his arrival, 9:53 but they did not…

  • Preaching Paths 29 June 2025,  Luke 9:51-62,  Proper 8 Yr C

    Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Today’s reading, Luke 9:51-62, begins the long section of Luke’s gospel  known as Jesus’ “Jerusalem journey” (9:51-19:27). His face is now “set firmly” toward Jerusalem (v 51) where he is destined to fulfill his mission, at the cost of his life. The route is, in fact, geographically…

  • 22nd June 2025, Year C, Proper 7 (12)

    St Luke 8:26-39 Jesus casts out demons 8:26 Then they arrived at the region of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. 8:27 As he stepped out on shore, a man from the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had not worn any clothes, and he did not live in a…

  • Preaching Paths 22 June 2025 Proper 7C

    Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary In Luke, Jesus travels into Gentile territory just once and liberates a man in the grip of a multitude of demonic spirits (Luke 8:26-39). Behavioral manifestations such as Luke describes still occur today; but now, they are recognized symptoms of certain types of brain inflammation. In Jesus’…

  • Trinity Sunday, First Sunday after Pentecost, 15th June 2025

    St John 16: 12-15 The Spirit will guide you into the truth 16:12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever…

  • Preaching Paths 15 June 2025  Trinity Sunday, Year C

    Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Today’s brief gospel reading, John 16:12-15, powerfully conveys to the Church the promise that fuels its witness:  today, as from the beginning, the Father and Son continue to accompany, teach, and lead Jesus’ followers through the Holy Spirit. Preaching preparation can include reviewing chs 14-16. The Father…

  •  Preaching Paths 8 June 2025, Pentecost Sunday Yr C

    Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Acts 2:1-21 is just one of the possible readings on Pentecost, but it is offered in all three years of the lectionary cycle. After ten, twenty, or thirty Pentecosts, a preacher may be restless for new material. It’s tempting to set Acts 2 aside; we know that…

  • Day of Pentecost, 8th June 2025

    Acts 2:1-21 Filled with the Spirit 2:1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2:2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 2:3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among…