Category: Uncategorized

  • Preaching Paths 29 September2024

    Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Mark scholars agree: today’s gospel lection, Mark 9:38-50, presents interpretive challenges.* John’s question about an “unauthorized” exorcist, as well as Jesus’ reply, seem at first glance far removed from our experience; yet they prompt us to think more deeply about the freedom of God’s liberating power to…

  • Proper 20 (25), 22nd September 2024

    St Mark 9:30-37 Prediction of the Passion 9:30They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it, 9:31for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed,…

  • Preaching Paths 22 September 2024 Proper 20B

    Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Jesus predicts his arrest, death and resurrection a second time in today’s reading, Mark 9:30-37. His disciples, uncomprehending as before, are afraid to ask for clarification—even the three who witnessed Jesus’ transfiguration on the mountaintop (9:2-8). For them, this is Jesus’ third mention of resurrection. Descending the…

  • Preaching Paths 15 September 2024 Proper 19B

    Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Mark 8:27-38, dead center in Mark’s gospel, is pivotal, shifting the Gospel’s momentum from Jesus’ ministry toward his passion. Here, Mark resolves the sustained narrative tension between knowing readers (clear about Jesus’ identity since 1:1) and those inside the story who struggle to discern who Jesus is.…

  • Preaching Paths 8 September 2024 Proper 18B

    Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Today’s lection, Mark 7:24-37, includes two vivid healing stories set in Gentile territory. Previously, Jesus has rejected the widespread view in Judaism at the time that what one eats, or the company one keeps, can render one “unclean” (7: 23). As if to reinforce the point, Jesus…

  • Grammatical Comments for 1st, 8th, and 15th September

    Owing to travel, I shall not be posting comments for the lections of 1st, 8th, and 15th September. Meanwhile, Professor Sally Brown will be continuing with her Preaching Paths without interruption. – J. Petropoulos

  • Preaching Paths 1 September 2024 Proper 17B

    Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary A wide historical and cultural gap separates contemporary congregations from the world of today’s Gospel lection, Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, and 21-23. A debate over ceremonial handwashing is not likely to generate waves of excitement in the pews. Simply acknowledging this fact early in the sermon can prop…

  • Proper 16 (21), 25th August 2024

    Ephesians 6:10-20 Put on the armor of God 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power; 6:11 put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, 6:12 for our struggle is not against blood and flesh but…

  • Preaching Paths 25 August 2024 Proper 16B 2nd NT Reading **

    Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary In a time when aggressive, militarized versions of Christianity and other faiths are gaining strength around the globe, preachers may be inclined to avoid the battle armor imagery of today’s 2nd NT reading, Ephesians 6:10-20. Indeed, its rhetorical form most closely resembles peroratio, the rousing speech a…

  • Proper 15 (20), 18th August 2024

    Ephesians 5:15-20 Filled with the Spirit 5:15 Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, 5:16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 5:17 So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 5:18 Do not get drunk with wine, for…