Category: Uncategorized

  • Preaching Paths 20 July 2025 Proper 11C

    Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary This week, as last, the gospel reading before us is a familiar one. Today’s text tells the story of Jesus’ visit with Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42). But if last week’s task was to discover new layers of meaning in a familiar parable, this week’s task may…

  • 13th July 2025, Proper 10 C

    St Luke 10:25-37 The parable of the merciful Samaritan 10:25 An expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 10:26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” 10:27 He answered, “You shall love the Lord…

  • Preaching Paths 13 July 2025 Proper 10C

    Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary We know Jesus’ parable in Luke 10:25-37 as “the story of the Good Samaritan,” although the word “good” never appears in the text. In Jesus’ time, both Jews and Samaritans would regard the other as anything but “good.” In the US and elsewhere, the phrase “Good Samaritan”…

  • 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…