Tag: faith

  • 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…

  • Preaching Paths 28 July 2024 Proper 12B

    Preaching Paths 28 July 2024  Proper 12B Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary The two miracle stories that comprise today’s gospel reading, John 6:1-21, were of utmost importance to early Christians. All three Synoptics have some version of the feeding of the multitude; all but Luke include the story of Jesus walking toward…

  • Preaching Paths 7 July 2024 Proper 9B

    Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary Mark sets two closely related pericopes side by side in Mark 6:1-13. Both stories advance a now-familiar theme: those who share news of the reign of God, in word or deed, should be prepared to face opposition or downright rejection. Jesus did, even in his own hometown.…

  • Proper 8 (13) Sixth Sunday after Pentecost, 30th June 2024

    Mark 5:21-435:21 When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. 5:22 Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet 5:23 and begged him repeatedly, “My little daughter…

  • Preaching Paths 30 June 2024 Proper 8B

    Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary In Mark 5:21-43, Mark deliberately embeds one striking healing event inside another. The dramatic tension unfolding in each story is generated by their interplay. They need to be preached together. The supplicants in these interwoven stories could not be more different. Jairus, who seeks healing for his…

  • Proper 7 (12) Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, 23rd June 2024

    Mark 4:35-414:35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 4:36 And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. 4:37 A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the…

  • Preaching Paths 23 June 2024 Proper 7

    Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary The story known as “the stilling of the storm” (Mk 4:35-41) is one of two such stories in Mark (cf 6:47-53). The vast majority of sermons based on today’s text treat this boat-in-a-storm metaphorically: the boat is either the church or one’s life situation; the storm represents…

  • Proper 4 (9) Second Sunday after Pentecost, 2nd June 2024

    Mark 2:23-3:62:23 One sabbath he was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. 2:24 The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?” 2:25 And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did…

  • Preaching Paths 26 May 2024 TRINITY Year B

    Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary On occasion, preachers find themselves taking issue with editorial divisions of a biblical text, as I do with our chosen text for Trinity Sunday Year B, Romans 8:12-17. Commentators express consternation at the “awkward transition” from v 13 to v 14, yet take for granted the editors’…

  • Fifth Sunday of Easter & Sixth Sunday of Easter, 28th April & 5th May 2024

    John 15:1-1715:1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. 15:2 He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. 15:3 You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. 15:4 Abide in…