Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22, Cycle B
This is one of the relatively few occasions within use of The Revised Common Lectionary in which there is, strictly speaking, no “gospel” in the Gospel selection chosen and not much “gospel” in the other texts either. Mark 7:15 is a wisdom saying that may be from the Jesus of history, “There is nothing outside [...]
Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21, Cycle B
John 6:56-69 In this segment of the John 6 “bread from heaven” discourse, there is no fully developed covenant and naturalization ceremony comparable to what we see in Joshua 24. This is not surprising, since Christianity did not become a civil religion, a state religion, the religion accepted and imposed upon all who live in [...]
Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20, Cycle B
John 6:51-58 This text selection continues to advance the claims of the Johannine Jesus to be the true bread from heaven that is incorporated into the earlier portions of John 6. In some congregations and denominations the words in John 6:53, “Jesus said to them, ‘If you do not eat the flesh of the Son [...]
Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19, Cycle B
John 6:35, 41-51 Within the similarities and differences between this account in John 6:35, 41-51 and the Mark 6:1-6a account describing activities of Jesus in his hometown, we can see the distinction between “the Jesus of history” and “the Christ of faith.” In the Mark 6 account there is still a recollection of Jesus, the [...]
Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18, Cycle B
Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15 In story form this account is a testimony that the Lord provides and has provided “bread from heaven” for the people in response to their call for food. Moses and Aaron are depicted as silent in the face of the murmuring of the people against them. The Lord does not seem to [...]
