Proper 19B

RCL: Proverbs 1:20-33; Psalm 19; James 3:1-12; Mark 8:27-38 There are countless ways we expect the story – our stories – to end. “And they lived happily ever after.” “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.” “Well done, good and faithful servant.” “And one day…

The esteemed 20th-century theologian Karl Barth [pronounced “Bart”] reportedly advised preachers to prepare sermons with the Bible in one hand and a current newspaper in the other. Obviously, he wanted the Bible to inform us and advise us, for good or bad, about what is going on in our time. Today, a magazine article satisfies…

On October 1, 1996 a book called The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks made its debut. Almost ten years later, on June 25, 2004, the movie adaptation came out with the story coming to life through actors Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, and James Garner. The story is about an elderly couple that is dealing with the wife’s advancing…

Who is Jesus? Have you ever been asked that question? Have you asked it of yourself? Or does this seem like nonsense? It would seem natural to think that after 2,000 years of Christian history, we should not have to pose such an inquiry. We might add that it’s obvious – Jesus is our Lord…

At least Jesus took poor Peter to one side! There are few things worse than being shamed in public. Yet the story of this stinging rebuke somehow leaked out. Indeed there is a school of thought that attributes much of Mark’s gospel to the words and memories of St. Peter. Perhaps in this account we…

You have seen them everywhere: bracelets, key rings, and just about anything that can be marked with the logo, WWJD: “What Would Jesus Do?” It’s daunting to wear one of those bracelets because in most situations, how would we be qualified to answer that question? How could we ever presume to know what Jesus would…

The question in the Gospel we just heard is aimed not just at Peter, but all of us. Let me offer my own answer, my answer to the question asked by Jesus, “Who do you say I am?” I declare that Jesus is king. He is king of all, but in particular he is my…

The old spiritual proclaims, “I have decided to follow Jesus….No turning back, no turning back…. The world behind me the cross before me, No turning back, no turning back” It is a decision to follow — to join oneself to God in Christ. Matthew’s gospel puts meaning even more dramatically, “The people who sat in…