Alternate First Reading

Good fences, Houston Heights, Texas
Commentary on Ruth 1:1-18

People are often surprised to find that the words from Ruth 1:16b-17, often heard at [...]

The Widow's Mite
Commentary on Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17

By the time the reader gets to these passages, she [...]

Archangel Michael and the Devil
Commentary on 1 Samuel 1:4-20

The reader who wants to understand Hannah’s story must understand not only the intricacies of [...]

Christ the King of Kings
Commentary on 2 Samuel 23:1-7

When I was growing up in the church, the last Sunday of the church year [...]

St. Vitale - Abraham and the Three Angels
Commentary on Genesis 18:1-15 [21:1-7]

The story for this week is for those who think [...]

Mark 2:23
Commentary on 1 Samuel 3:1-10 [11-20]

Have you ever thought you heard someone call your name [...]

Genesis 3:11b
Commentary on 1 Samuel 8:4-11 [12-15] 16-20; [11:14-15]

God called Abraham to start [...]

Mark 4:32
Commentary on 1 Samuel 15:34—16:13

More than once, readers, including myself, have looked at how [...]

Mark 4:39b
Commentary on 1 Samuel 17:[1a, 4-11, 19-23] 32-49

David is introduced to the reader in Ruth 4:17. Mere [...]

Mark 5:42
Commentary on 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27

It’s a classic trope of male-bonding and war literature.1 The [...]