Irreverently Reverend

  Ordinary Time Joseph could no longer control himself in front of all his attendants, so he declared, “Everyone, leave now!” So no one stayed with him when he revealed his identity to his brothers.  2  He wept so loudly that the Egyptians and Pharaoh’s household heard him.  3  Joseph said to his brothers, “I’m Joseph! Is my father really still alive?” His brothers couldn’t respond because they were terrified before him. 4  Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer to me,” and they moved closer. He said, “I’m your brother Joseph! The one you sold to Egypt.  5  Now, don’t be upset and don’t be angry with yourselves that you sold me here. Actually, God sent me before you to save lives.  6  We’ve already had two years of famine in the land, and there are five years left without planting or harvesting.  7  God sent me before you to make sure you’d survive and to rescue your lives in this amazing way.  8  You didn’t...

  Ordinary Time--Pride Sunday When God began to create the heavens and the earth—  2  the earth was without shape or form, it was dark over the deep sea, and God’s wind swept over the waters—  3  God said, “Let there be light.” And so light appeared.  4  God saw how good the light was. God separated the light from the darkness.  5  God named the light Day and the darkness Night. There was evening and there was morning: the first day. 6  God said, “Let there be a dome in the middle of the waters to separate the waters from each other.”  7  God made the dome and separated the waters under the dome from the waters above the dome. And it happened in that way.  8  God named the dome Sky. There was evening and there was morning: the second day. 9  God said, “Let the waters under the sky come together into one place so that the dry land can appear.” And that’s what happened.  10  God named the dry...

  Sixth Sunday of Easter Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.  2  And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  3  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and be their God; 4  he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” 5  And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.”  6  Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the sp...

  Fifth Sunday of Lent When  Adonai  restored Tziyon’s fortunes, we thought we were dreaming. 2  Our mouths were full of laughter, and our tongues shouted for joy. Among the nations it was said, “ Adonai  has done great things for them!” 3  Adonai  did do great things with us; and we are overjoyed. 4  Return our people from exile,  Adonai , as streams fill  vadis in the Negev. [NRSV: Restore our fortunes, O Lord,     like the watercourses in the Negeb.] 5  Those who sow in tears will reap with cries of joy. 6  He who goes out weeping as he carries his sack of seed will come home with cries of joy as he carries his sheaves of grain. (CJB)             House Bill 1557, colloquially called the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, passed in Florida this past week, prohibiting discussion about sexual or gender identity in primary school classrooms. ...