Holy Textures

Mark 4:26-34

"The comfort (in this parable) is to consider the possibility that the most helpful thing I could do to advance the Kingdom of God is to take a nap."

Year B, Season of Pentecost
 Proper 6, Ordinary Time 11
Sunday Between June 12 and June 18 Inclusive 
2nd Sunday After Pentecost 2009

Read the passage: The Message   or   The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Click here for an easy to print or email Adobe PDF version of this note.

This week, we return to reading through the Gospel of Mark. Having read most of Chapter 1 way back in Epiphany, we skip Chapters 2 and 3. Malina & Rohrbaugh title the section, Mark 3:7 to 8:26:
  Back and Forth at Sea with Jesus and His Disciples.

Chapter 4 is a miniature, "Sermon by the Sea:"

John 3:1-17

"Being born anew / from above is a huge transformation, since it means quite literally starting over with a new 'family of origin.' ... (It) relocates our identity and resets possibilities for our character and life choices / opportunities."

Listed on The Text This Week, www.textweek.com: Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis for the Gospel reading.

Year B, Season of Pentecost 
Trinity Sunday 
1st Sunday After Pentecost

and

Year A, Season of Lent
Lent 2
March 20, 2011

Read the passage at the bottom of this post: John 3:1-17, The Message   or   John 3:1-17, The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Click here for an easy to print or email Adobe PDF version of this note.

Listen to or download an MP3 of this post:

John 3:1-17

Sermon by the Rev. Dr. George Hermanson, "Inner Reality."

Verses 3:1-17 contain 3 questions / statements by Nicodemus, and 3 responses by Jesus - each beginning with Jesus  giving his word of honour to his response, "Very truly, I tell you:"

• 3:3, no one can see the Kingdom of God without being born from above;
• 3:5, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit; and,
• 3:11, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony.

This passage is thick with words that have double - or triple - meanings, and images that are presented as sharp contrasts: