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Easter Sunday, 13th April 2025
St John 20: 1-18 [1]Τῇ δὲ μιᾷ τῶν σαββάτων Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ ἔρχεται πρωῒ σκοτίας ἔτι οὔσης εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον, καὶ βλέπει τὸν λίθον ἠρμένον ἐκ τοῦ μνημείου. [2]τρέχει οὖν καὶ ἔρχεται πρὸς Σίμωνα Πέτρον καὶ πρὸς τὸν ἄλλον μαθητὴν ὃν ἐφίλει ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· ἦραν τὸν Κύριον ἐκ τοῦ μνημείου, καὶ οὐκ…
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Preaching Paths 20 April 2025 Easter Day Year C John 20:1-18*
Sally A Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Each of the four gospels describes events that take place at Jesus’ tomb early on the first day of the week following Jesus’ crucifixion. All are different; yet, on two points they agree: the tomb was found open, and Mary Magdalene was there. One may disagree with…
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13th April 2025, Liturgy of the Palms
Luke 19:28-40 Entrance into the final days 19:28After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 19:29When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 19:30saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it…
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Preaching Paths 13 April 2025
Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary A careful, thoughtful public reading of the gospel text on Palm Sunday this year (Luke 19:28-40) may warrant a brief introduction. We can alert listeners that Luke’s presentation of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem omits details found in the other gospels. They will hear no mention of…
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6th April 2025, 5th Sunday in Lent
John 12:1-8 Mary anoints Jesus for his burial 12:1Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 12:2There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him. 12:3Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of…
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Preaching Paths 6 April 2025 Lent 6C
Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Anointing honored guests as a sign of hospitality and respect is found in ancient Egyptian and Greek sources, as well as the New Testament. Each of the four gospels includes a scene in which a woman anoints Jesus with scented oil at a dinner where he is…
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30th March 2025, 4th Sunday in Lent
Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 The parable of the forgiving father 15:1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 15:2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 15:3 So he told them this parable: 15:11b “There was a man…
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Preaching Paths 30 March 2025 Lent 4 Yr C
Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary In today’s reading (Luke 15:1-3,11b-32), Jesus responds to Pharisees who condemn his habit of sharing his table with notorious sinners and tax collectors. We focus today on what many know as the parable of the “Prodigal Son,” the third in a triad of parables about God’s concern…
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Preaching Paths 23 March 2025 Lent 3 Yr C
Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary The Gospel text for Lent 3, Luke 13:1-9, continues the apocalyptic tone of Jesus’ teachings in ch 12. Four themes shape these verses: 1) the fragility of human life; 2) the imminent inbreaking of God’s reign; 3) the narrowing window of opportunity to take appropriate action (repentance);…
Insights into Biblical Greek Grammar and Syntax 