Irreverently Reverend

  Fourth Sunday in Lent 4  Then they traveled from Mount Hor on the road toward the Sea of Suf in order to go around the land of Edom; but the people’s tempers grew short because of the detour.  5  The people spoke against God and against Moshe: “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt? To die in the desert? There’s no real food, there’s no water, and we’re sick of this miserable stuff we’re eating!” 6  In response, Adonai sent poisonous snakes among the people; they bit the people, and many of Isra’el’s people died.  7  The people came to Moshe and said, “We sinned by speaking against Adonai and against you. Pray to Adonai that he rid us of these snakes.” Moshe prayed for the people,  8  and Adonai answered Moshe: “Make a poisonous snake and put it on a pole. When anyone who has been bitten sees it, he will live.”  9  Moshe made a bronze snake and put it on the pole; if a snake had bitten some...

  Second Sunday of Ordinary Time 23  At that time a great disturbance erupted about the Way.  24  There was a silversmith named Demetrius. He made silver models of Artemis’ temple, and his business generated a lot of profit for the craftspeople.  25  He called a meeting with these craftspeople and others working in related trades and said, “Friends, you know that we make an easy living from this business.  26  And you can see and hear that this Paul has convinced and misled a lot of people, not only in Ephesus but also throughout most of the province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands aren’t really gods.  27  This poses a danger not only by discrediting our trade but also by completely dishonoring the great goddess Artemis. The whole province of Asia—indeed, the entire civilized world—worships her, but her splendor will soon be extinguished.” (CEB)   “To me,” said a West Texas florist who was part of the violent des...

  Advent III 1 The Lord God’s spirit is upon me,     because the Lord has anointed me. He has sent me     to bring good news to the poor,     to bind up the brokenhearted,     to proclaim release for captives,         and liberation for prisoners, 2      to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor         and a day of vindication for our God,     to comfort all who mourn, 3      to provide for Zion’s mourners,     to give them a crown in place of ashes,     oil of joy in place of mourning,     a mantle of praise in place of discouragement. They will be called Oaks of Righteousness,     planted by the Lord to glorify himself. 4...