Monthly Archives: October 2018

Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost

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Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost (25B), October 28, 2018; The Rev. Susan Ackley

Job 42:1-6, 10-17 Then Job answered the Lord: “I know that you can do all things.”
Hebrews 7:23-28 Furthermore, the former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office.
Mark 10:46-52 As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside.

This is a difficult Sunday to preach.

How can we, gathered here this morning, possibly hold these two events together — the Baptism of little Nina and the killings at Tree of Life Synagogue?
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Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

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Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost (22B), October 7, 2018; The Rev. Susan Ackley

Job 1:1; 2:1-10 There was once a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job.
Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12 Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds
Mark 10:2-16 Some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?’

Ah — this Gospel, the “divorce” Gospel. Not the favorite of most preachers, definitely including me.

It’s hits me personally. I was divorced 41 years ago, but the scars, both from a very bad marriage and a clumsy divorce, remain.
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