How to read, to preach on these familiar stories, related to each other at the thematic level as the Lectionary is wont to do? The synoptic gospels draw heavily on the Elijah/Elisha stories, sometimes to characterize John the Baptist and Jesus and more often Jesus and his disciples. It appears in the first reading that Elijah recruits his successor in a rather flamboyant way, and that detail can catch and hold the eye. But perhaps we do better to understand that Elisha was known as Elijah’s disciple and successor, and the story emerges in order to account for what may have happened and in any case to attest to the “new man’s” authority and status. The “requir

At first glance, these first and Gospel readings seem well-matched, even easy. David and Simon have mis-stepped seriously in terms of what they supposed (sincerely or not) was acceptable behavior, specifically here in the treatment of women. Each is admonished strongly by a powerful prophet-like speaker, and we can see what would have been better. But further study suggests it is not quite so straightforward. David’s reprimand from God via Nathan suggests that his basic error was in not asking directly for what he wanted: Had you wanted more than you had, I would have provided it: women, power, and so forth. And Jesus speaks to Simon about the woman and seems not to avert to her at

Last week I was diagnosed with pneumonia;I had been tired for a few weeks, but had not suspected why I had been so lethargic, not to mention moribund and feverish. I am going to bow out of writing for the "Good Word" for the summer, though not from reading the blog, or the Word itself, as one means to help me to recuperate. I have come to love writing on the Scripture in this online context. Though blogs can have a tendency to get rough and ready, fesity and nasty, I think the Bible, even where readers disagree on meaning or interpretation, helps to calm things down and keeps readers, writers and commenters on an even keel. The Bible demands our humility and our love as the word of God an