Category: Uncategorized

  • Preaching Paths 6 October 2024 Proper 22

    Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary In today’s Gospel reading (Mark 10:2-16), some Pharisees ask Jesus to vote up or down the lawfulness of divorcing one’s wife. Their motive may be less than innocent; they may hope he will answer in a way that draws the attention and ire of Herodias, who married…

  • Proper 21 (26), 29th September 2024

    St Mark 9: 38-50 Warnings to those who obstruct faith 9:38John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he was not following us.” 9:39But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a deed of power in my name…

  • 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…