RCL: Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67; Psalm 45: 11-18 or Song of Solomon 2:8-13; Romans 7:15-25a; Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 Genesis 24:34-28, 42-49, 58-67 Providence is being in the right place at the right time, as designed by God. It is trusting in the well-timed fruition of opportunity and fulfillment of future outcomes as orchestrated by divine…

RCL: Genesis 22:1-14; Psalm 13; Romans 6:12-23; Matthew 10:40-42 Genesis 22:1-14 Many contemporary Christians find this text to be very challenging, for it raises uncomfortable questions about the nature of God and how God interacts with us. Why would God test Abraham by ordering him to sacrifice his son Isaac? One explanation is that the…

RCL: Genesis 21:8-21; Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17; Romans 6:1b-11; Matthew 10:24-39 Genesis 21:8-21 Outside of the book of Genesis, the word “Abraham” appears in the Bible 142 times. Compare that with Sarah, which appears 24 times, and Hagar who only appears 3 times—once in Baruch and twice in Galatians. Given that father Abraham is remembered for…

RCL: Genesis 18:1-15, (21:1-7); Psalm 116:1, 10-17; Romans 5:1-8; Matthew 9:35-10:8 (9-23) Genesis 18:1-15 In the Book of Genesis, chapter 18, verses 1-15, the ever-faithful Abraham, first of the Hebrew patriarchs, unexpectedly plays host to God and two angelic companions at an oak grove near his home in the Hebron neighborhood, a township nestled in…

RCL: Genesis 12:1-9; Psalm 33:1-12; Romans 4:13-25; Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 Genesis 12:1-9a Uprooting oneself and one’s family is a difficult and sometimes necessary thing. Aside from the physical work of packing up belongings, marshalling movers or friends, and unpacking, there’s the mental and emotional strain of starting over, of finding new habits, of making new…