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Matthew 9:9-13, 18-269:9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. 9:10 And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and…

Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Mt 9:9-13, 18-26 presents in four interlocked scenes the shocking, boundary-crossing nature of Jesus’ interpretation of the reign of God. Scene I: Rabbis like Jesus would choose disciples to learn their teachings and emulate their way of life, but none would choose a tax collector! Tax collectors…

St Paul, 2 Cor. 13: 11-13 13:11 Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 13:12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. 13:13 The grace of…

St Paul, 2 Cor. 13: 11-13 13:11 Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 13:12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. 13:13 The grace of…

​Sally A. Brown Elizabeth M. Engle Professor of Preaching and Worship Emerita Princeton Theological Seminary For Trinity Sunday the lectionary fittingly pairs two NT texts that contain early trinitarian formulas. In each case, the closing sentences of an entire NT book name the Godhead as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In Matthew 28:19, we find…

Αcts of the Apostles 2:1-21 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 them,…

Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary The text this Pentecost Sunday from ch 2 of The Acts of the Apostles falls into three sections. First, we witness the inrush of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus’ followers, gathered in an upper room in Jerusalem on the Jewish feast called Pentecost. Second, we hear varied…

St John 17:1-1117:1 After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, 17:2 since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 17:3 And this…

Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary  Rhetorically, John 17 is prayer, overheard. The Son addresses the Father, praying as crisis looms for himself and those who have followed him. We are meant to lean in closely. The prayer’s opening verses comprise today’s reading. Homiletical prudence favors choosing either to focus on the profound…

St John 14:15-2114:15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 14:17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because…