Thinking about the Unthinkable – Tom Mundahl reflects on our desert struggle in the time of climate crisis. Care for Creation Commentary on the Common Lectionary Readings for the Second Sunday of Advent, Year B (2014, 2017, 2020, 2023) Isaiah 40:1-11 Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 2 Peter 3:8-15a Mark 1:1-8 Few themes sound more forcefully duringRead More →
Stay Alert with Hope; and Beware the Consumers of Christmas. – Tom Mundahl reflects on hope, watching, and serving. Care for Creation Commentary on the Common Lectionary Readings for the First Sunday of Advent, Year B (2014, 2017, 2020, 2023) Isaiah 64:1-9 Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 Mark 13:24-37 In a recent review ofRead More →
Let’s Just Start Over! – Tom Mundahl reflects on the start of Advent in the midst of pandemic, climate crisis, and racial violence. Care for Creation Commentary on the Common Lectionary Readings for the First Sunday of Advent, Year B (2020, 2023, 2026) Isaiah 64:1-9 Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 Mark 13:24-37 Advent marksRead More →
Claiming the Future as Precious Gifts of People and Land – Dennis Ormseth reflects on acting boldly for restoration and healing. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday November 13-19, Year A (2011, 2014, 2017, 2020, 2023, 2026) Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18 Psalm 90:1-8 [9-11] 12 I Thessalonians 5:1-11 Matthew 25:14-30 AtRead More →
In Praise of Generosity – Paul Santmire reflects on a kairos moment for Americans. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday September 18-24, Year A (2014, 2017, 2020, 2023, 2026) Jonah 3:10 – 4:11 Psalm 145:1-8 Philippians 1:21-30 Matthew 20:1-16 In the liberal state of Massachusetts, a woman phoned intoRead More →
Weeping Together – Amy Carr reflects on mutual vulnerability and forgiveness in a changing climate. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday September 4 – 10, Year A (2023, 2026) Genesis 50:15-21 Psalm 103:[1-7], 8-13 Romans 14:1-12 Matthew 18:21-35 Our scripture readings this week point to an inescapable feature ofRead More →
A Prayer in the Anthropocene – Carmen Retzlaff reflects on food scarcity and food sovereignty. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday July 31 – August 6, Year A (2023, 2026) Isaiah 55:1-5 Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21 Romans 9:1-5 Matthew 14:13-21 “Food security exists when all people, at all times, haveRead More →
Incline Your Ear and Listen Carefully – Amy Carr reflects on our response to grief, anguish, and the temptation to despair. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday July 31 – August 6, Year A (2020, 2023, 2026) Isaiah 55:1-5 Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21 Romans 9:1-5 Matthew 14:13-21 Lutheran ethicist CynthiaRead More →
A Great Unraveling? – Tom Mundahl reflects on God remembering. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday July 24-30, Year A (2023, 2026) Genesis 29:15-28 (semicontinuous reading) Psalm 119:129-136 Romans 8:26-39 Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 We routinely call the Sundays after Pentecost the Time of the Church or Ordinary Time. ThisRead More →
Taking on Rationalization – Amy Carr reflects on donkeys facing war horses. Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday July 3-9, Year A (2020, 2023, 2026) Zachariah 9:9-12 Psalm 145:8-14 Romans 7:15-25a Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 There is both utopic political imagination and Machiavellian rationalization at play in today’s scripture readings.Read More →