The Transformation of All Life – Dennis Ormseth reflects on the reorientation of creation to its sacred center. Care for Creation Commentary on the Common Lectionary  Readings for Year B (2012, 2015, 2018, 2021, 2024)  Sunday of the Passion Mark 11:1-11 or John 12:12-16 (Procession) Isaiah 50:4-9a Psalm 31:9-16 Philippians 2:5-11 Mark 14:1-15:47 or Mark 15:1-39 [40-47] Maundy Thursday Exodus 12:1-4 [5-10] 11-14 Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 John 13:1-17, 31b-35 Good Friday Isaiah 52:13-53:12 Psalm 22 Hebrews 10:16-25 or Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 John 18:1-19:42 The week we call “holy” traditionally begins with the congregation’s Palm Sunday procession: the pastor reads the processional Gospel fromRead More →

How does creation participate in this new life? – Leah Schade reflects on Christ’s passion and resurrection through an ecological hermeneutic. Care for Creation Commentary on the Common Lectionary  Readings for Easter Day, Year A (2014, 2017, 2020, 2023) Jeremiah 31:1-6 Psalm 118:102, 14-24 Acts 10:34-43 Matthew 38:1-10 What a wonderful coincidence that the celebration of Easter is the same week as the secular celebration of Earth Day this year. Peter reminded the Gentiles in Cornelius’ house: “Jesus’ commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead” (ActsRead More →

Jesus is the Faithful Servant of God’s Creation. – Dennis Ormseth reflects on the last week of Jesus’ life on earth. Care for Creation Commentary on the Common Lectionary (originally written by Dennis Ormseth in 2014) Readings for Sunday of the Passion, Year A (2014, 2017, 2020, 2023) Matthew 21:1-11Psalm 31:9-16Isaiah 50:4-9aPhillipians 2:5-11Matthew 26:14-27:66 The processional Gospel presents Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Warren Carter notes that Matthew’s narrative of the event includes several “features common to traditions of Jewish and Greco-Roman entrance processions:” the appearance of the ruler, a procession into the city, welcoming and celebrating crowds, and a hymnic acclamation. Certain details in Matthew’sRead More →

Eco-Justice Commentary on the Common Lectionary The Season of Lent in Year C (2016) By Dennis Ormseth Sunday of the Passion in Year C Luke 19:28-40 Isaiah 50-:4-9a Psalm31:9-16 (5) Philippians 2:5-11 Luke 22:14-23:56 or Luke 23:1-49 Recapitulation of the argument: Jesus refuses the way of domination over neighbor, nations and nature. Our comments on the readings for the Sundays of Lent have shown that the texts consistently address the way of domination in a manner that involves both social justice and care of creation. All four readings from the Gospel of Luke and a fifth from John’s Gospel support this view, often in combinationRead More →

Offering Life for the World – Tom Mundahl reflects on Christ’s suffering and death. Care for Creation Commentary on the Common Lectionary (originally written by Tom Mundahl in 2017) Readings for the Sunday of Passion, Year A (2017, 2020, 2023) Matthew 21:1-11 Isaiah 50:4-9a Psalm 31:9-16 Philippians 2:5-11 Matthew 26:14-27: 66 or Matthew 27:11-54 The Sunday of the Passion begins the eight-day holy week, which culminates in the central celebration of the Christian faith: the passage of Jesus from death to life marked by the Three Days. Not only do the readings contain rich support for serving creation, but the gospel readings show the cosmic significanceRead More →