Preaching Roundtable
The Green Blades Preaching Roundtable weekly reflections by a variety of preaching writers on the ecological implications of each Sunday’s lectionary.
To inquire about writing for the Green Blades Preaching Roundtable, or to receive these reflections on a weekly basis, contact Kristin Foster, editor, at revkristinfoster@gmail.com.
October 2024
21st Sunday after Pentecost
October 13, 2024
Tamela K. Walhof, Lutheran Advocacy – Minnesota St. Paul, MN
Amos 5:6-7, 10-15
Psalm 90:12-17
Hebrews 4:12-16
Mark 10:17-31
One of the most revelatory discoveries of my life was learning that the words justice and righteousness are not separate words in many languages. The Spanish word ‘justicia,’ looks a lot like the English word ‘justice.’ But it kept showing up in my Spanish Bible in places I knew my English language Bible translated as righteousness. In Hebrew, the words ‘tsedekah’ (f) / ‘tsedek’ (m) refer both to justice and righteousness. I’ve since learned that the Greek ‘dikaiosune’ (used in the New Testament) does as well.
In fact, whether using tsedekah, dikaiosune, justicia, justice, or righteousness, it’s all about ‘right relationship’ – right relationship with God, right relationship between people, (and communities or nations), and right relationship among and between all that God has created. When Jesus was asked, “Teacher, what is the greatest commandment?,” he super-sized it with love – Love God and Love your neighbor. He went on to say, “On these two commands hang all the law and the prophets” – which, of course, holds true when you evaluate much of what is in the Old Testament. ​​
Read the full reflection here
22nd Sunday after Pentecost
October 20th, 2024
Pastor John Stiles
Our Redeemer, Pine City, Minnesota
Mark 10:35-45
When do we ever hear about a plan that calls US to serve? A plan that involves sacrifice from EVERYONE, particularly as it involves the long-term care and stewardship of Creation? Clearly, nature lives alongside us in every way. We are intrinsically linked to every other living organism on the planet. Whether we outlive nature by turning our back on it remains to be seen. Everyone knows that the climate is warming, causing global chain reactions for which we are only beginning to understand the consequences.
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Read the full reflection here
22nd Sunday after Pentecost
October 20th, 2024
Luke Pederson
SAM Trinity of Norden and Good Shepherd
Northwest Synod of Wisconsin
Mark 10:35-45
Hebrews 5:1-10
Psalm 91:9-16
Isaiah 53:4-12
The Gospel text from Mark is one of my favorites. When James and John, the “sons of thunder” ask Jesus to give them positions of power, glory and honor at his right and left hand in his kingdom only to be told that, like Peter when he confessed Jesus as Messiah, they do not understand what they are saying. They too are thinking of human things and not divine things. Again, Jesus takes our human notions of power, honor, and glory and flips them upside down. This text comes after Jesus has for the third time foretold that he will be handed over to suffer and be sentenced to death, and three days later rise again. Fear, I think, motivates these two disciples to ask Jesus for positions of honor and glory, just as they had earlier argued among themselves who is the greatest. Fear of what they will face, fear of losing Jesus, fear of change. Indeed, I think it is the fear of change that underlies their request.
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Read the full reflection here
Reformation Sunday
October 27, 2024
Pastor David Carlson, Duluth MN
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Psalm 46
Romans 3:19-28
John 8:31-36
Using the concept of “reformation” to describe the ecological conversion and movement being called for today in both church and society is not new. One substantive piece for preachers and church leaders to consider was published over a decade ago by David Rhoads, “Reflections on a Lutheran Theology of Creation: Foundations for a New Reformation,” Seminary Ridge Review 15, no. 1 (2012). It is accessible at http://seminaryridgereview.org.
The shifting in these reformations from an old paradigm to a new one can be thought of in terms of bondage and freedom. To use images of John 8, like the people Jesus encounters who don’t remember their enslavement, it can be difficult for us to see our captivity, both collective and individual, to systems and ways of thinking and being that are harmful to people and the planet. “Everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin,” Jesus says, a reminder of the brokenness of our relationships not only with each other, but also with air, waters, soils, and other creatures, brokenness from which we cannot extricate ourselves. But Jesus, the Son, makes us free to live in a new way, to have a place in his “household” – a word in Greek (oikos) related to ecology and economy – one we could imagine as God’s new creation, healing and flourishing, repairing and life-giving for all.
Green Blades Preaching Roundtable Archive