By Stephen Fowl

• More Righteous than the Scribes and Pharisees by Stephen Fowl (1/31/2017)
  ...mpet seem genuinely baffled by the criticisms lodged against them. Their ritual observance seems to have been devout. They seek God. They “delight to know [God’s] ways.” They fast, humble themselves, and observe the Sabbath. As we read further in this passage, it is clear that all of this ritual devotion is completely disconnected from the common life of their society. There is rampant inju...
• Money and Friends by Stephen Fowl (9/12/2016)
  ...s. Then he says, “You cannot serve God and wealth.” Whether or not I always serve God, I hesitate to accept the idea that I might be serving wealth. Rather, wealth is there to serve me. I think that is what many of us both in and outside the church think. We are free and wealth or money is to be used by us. It is a tool; it serves us. We may not always use our money wisely, but we definitely us...
• Neighboring by Stephen Fowl (7/6/2016)
  ...yday discourse from our Gospel reading for this Sunday. Our familiarity with this story and our conventional use of the term Good Samaritan might lead us to miss some of the more interesting details of this story from Luke’s gospel.<!--more--> The story emerges out of a verbal conflict between Jesus and a lawyer. Luke tells us that the lawyer wants to test Jesus. This lawyer asks Jesus what he ...
• The Death of Jesus by Stephen Fowl (3/15/2016)
  ...illboards for the empire’s power. From the perspective of the Romans, Jesus’ death on the cross was simply one more occasion for the empire to announce that if you disrupt things, and even if we <em>think</em> you might disrupt things, we will crush you and display you as an example to others. Pilate’s cowardice in this matter shows that he, too, has learned the lesson that the empire’s securi...
• I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? by Stephen Fowl (3/8/2016)
  ...immanent defeat of Babylon. From there, today’s reading begins with an allusion to God’s deliverance of the Israelites and the defeat of the Egyptians at the Red Sea. Although this is Israel’s climactic moment of redemption and liberation, Isaiah admonishes readers not to dwell on past acts of redemption – as wonderful as those were. Something new is about to happen. Isaiah’s audience is challenge...
• Feasting with the Saints by Stephen Fowl (10/26/2015)
  ...nal days for baptism, too. When this happens it provides a community with a chance to look both backward to remember departed members of the body and forward with those beginning their new lives in Christ. I am also partial to the hymns for this day. This Sunday is one of those occasions when All Saints Day lands on a Sunday. One way to focus our remembrance of the saints is to reflect on the ...
• The Authority of Prisoners by Stephen Fowl (7/29/2015)
  ... life in Christ. One of the most striking things about the epistle reading for today is that it begins with a personal plea from one who is a “prisoner in the Lord.” In the NRSV Paul is said to “beg” the Ephesians to walk in a manner worthy of their calling. In this light, it appears that Paul the prisoner is begging the Ephesians. This certainly is an appropriate posture for one who is a ...
• The Advocacy of the Spirit by Stephen Fowl (5/19/2015)
  ... In 1Kings 19 Elijah has just accomplished the most powerful act of his prophetic ministry. On behalf of the one true God, Elijah has challenged the prophets of Baal, who enjoyed the favor of the king and queen. God vindicates Elijah’s bold fidelity and Elijah purges the prophets of Baal. Ahaz and Jezebel vow revenge; Elijah flees. He is now a fugitive from royal justice. This is an incredible...
• Death Defeated by Stephen Fowl (4/1/2015)
  ...s go, we would call it a good death. Nevertheless, as I found out at Christmas, and I expect I will find out at Easter, her death has upset me more than I first knew. Without question, there are various reasons for this. It is a normal part of the grieving process. I probably have some unfinished business with my mother. I feel guilty I was not there when she died. As we approach Easter, howev...
• Contemplatives in Action by Stephen Fowl (2/3/2015)
  ...y” go to the synagogue. There, Jesus teaches “with authority.” Though we don’t learn what he says, we do learn that he casts out a demon. This activity certainly serves to buttress Jesus’ authority. Moreover, we learn that “immediately” the news about him spread throughout Galilee (1:21-28). This is all before lunch.<!--more--> Our reading for this Sunday begins on the same Sabbath day with...
• Enter Into the Lord's Joy by Stephen Fowl (11/11/2014)
  ...ught of Christianity as little more than a religion whose adherents’ faith is based on the fearful desire to avoid some future judgment by God. Although Christians have from time to time evangelized the world by calling people to believe in order to be saved from God’s coming judgment, these passages cannot easily be enlisted in such a project. Strikingly, the readings from Zephaniah and Matt...
• The Quality of Mercy by Stephen Fowl (9/15/2014)
  ...me from; they do not believe that Moses or God can provide; they are uncomfortable with having to rely on God. Alternatively, if you opt for the reading from Jonah, God gets slammed by Jonah for being merciful to the Ninevites; for treating them better than they deserve; for being steadfast in love: Complaints for not providing enough, complaints for providing too much. Jonah is probably tied ...