Irreverently Reverend

  Ordinary Time These are the descendants of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham was the father of Isaac,  20  and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, sister of Laban the Aramean.  21  Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife because she was barren, and the Lord granted his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived.  22  The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is to be this way, why do I live?” So she went to inquire of the Lord.  23  And the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb,     and two peoples born of you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other;     the elder shall serve the younger.” 24  When her time to give birth was at hand, there were twins in her womb.  25  The first came out red, all his body like a hairy mantle, so they name...

  Ash Wednesday             Shout out, do not hold back!   Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Today is Ash Wednesday, a day of remembering mortality, of talking about sins and penitence.   It is a gray day when the snow keeps coming and there are so many uncertainties about Ukraine and my voice is just not loud enough when the newscasters never stop talking. Announce to my people their rebellion, to the house of Jacob their sins. This feels more like church—more like what we’ve made church into, at least.   We come to services to feel the ash drift down onto our eyebrows and be reminded that we are broken, we mortals who keep trying so hard, we humans who want to be loved. 2  Yet day after day they seek me and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God;   What if we were a nation that practiced righteousn...

  Ordinary Time On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters;  5  but to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb.  6  Her rival used to provoke her severely, to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb.  7  So it went on year by year; as often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat.  8  Her husband Elkanah said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? Why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?” 9  After they had eaten and drunk at Shiloh, Hannah rose and presented herself before the Lord. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord.  10  She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord, and wept bitterly. ...

  Ordinary Time Then Job answered and said: 2  “Today also my complaint is bitter;     my hand is heavy on account of my groaning. 3  Oh, that I knew where I might find him,     that I might come even to his seat! 4  I would lay my case before him     and fill my mouth with arguments. 5  I would know what he would answer me     and understand what he would say to me. 6  Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power?     No; he would pay attention to me. 7  There an upright man could argue with him,     and I would be acquitted forever by my judge. 8  “Behold, I go forward, but he is not there,     and backward, but I do not perceive him; 9  on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him;     he turns to the right h...