Exegesis | Preaching Hope

Lent 3 B ~ "Gallows-Birds and Other Fools" ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

St. Paul is writing a letter to the Christians at Corinth because he is very familiar with that congregation. After all, he founded the...

susan mcgurgan

Feb 26, 20246 min read

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Lent 2 B ~"The Mt. Moriah Son Test"~ Susan McGurgan, D.Min.

Given any other choice, preachers don’t often choose to preach on this passage from Genesis. At least, I don’t remember many sermons that...

susan mcgurgan

Feb 19, 20247 min read

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Lent 1 B ~ "This Lent..." ~ Rev. Benjamin Roberts, D.Min.

Every Lent I seem to do the same things. I think about the great season of Lent and the joy of preparing for the great feast of Easter,...

susan mcgurgan

Feb 12, 20242 min read

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6 OT B ~ "The God of Mending" ~ Susan McGurgan, D.Min.

One of the names of God is Jehovah-Rapha. The word “rapha” is typically translated “heal” meaning, “The God who Heals.” But, the heart of...

susan mcgurgan

Feb 5, 20244 min read

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5 OT B ~"Not Permitted to Speak" ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

During more peaceful times, we pilgrims to the Holy Land flew in to Tel Aviv and after landing, we were transferred from the airplane to...

susan mcgurgan

Jan 30, 20245 min read

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4 OT B ~ "Loose in the Synagogue" ~ Susan McGurgan, D.Min.

It is Sabbath morning in Capernaum, and the smell of last night’s catch still lingers on the breeze and rises from the boats anchored...

susan mcgurgan

Jan 23, 20243 min read

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3 OT B ~ "...as a Disciple" ~ Rev. Benjamin Roberts, D.Min.

In August of 2002, I entered seminary in Buffalo, New York. I was discerning and studying with the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, a...

susan mcgurgan

Jan 15, 20243 min read

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2 OT B ~ "We Need Andrews" ~ Susan McGurgan, D.Min.

I grew up in Oklahoma in the land of red clay, tall thermometers, and Oral Roberts -- a deeply religious corner of the world where Friday...

susan mcgurgan

Jan 9, 20244 min read

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The Epiphany of the Lord B ~"Home by Another Way"~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

These Magi are probably Persian and would be devoted to studying the stars in order to find meaning in the events here on earth. They...

susan mcgurgan

Jan 2, 20246 min read

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Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph ~ "Anna" ~Susan McGurgan D.Min.

Embedded deep within the Bible-- and just a little hidden sometimes, by the Prophets and the Kings and the Warriors and the Priests and...

susan mcgurgan

Dec 26, 20232 min read

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The Nativity of the Lord ~ "Which Shepherd?" ~ Rev. Benjamin Roberts, D.Min.

I have always loved the shepherds in the Christmas story. And it might have a little to do with having played the part of the shepherd...

susan mcgurgan

Dec 23, 20233 min read

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Advent 4 B ~ "The Impossible" ~ Susan McGurgan, DMin

I hear a lot of homilies and read a lot of reflections that focus on Mary’s obedience. Her receptivity. Her quietness. Her “Yes.” Most of...

susan mcgurgan

Dec 18, 20232 min read

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Advent 3 B ~ "Rejoicing As We Wait" ~ Rev. Benjamin Roberts, DMin

In the season of Advent, we keep watch for the one who keeps his promise. In the season of Advent, we prepare the way of the Lord. And in...

susan mcgurgan

Dec 11, 20232 min read

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Advent 2 B ~ "Where God Can Surprise Us, and All Bets are Off" ~ Susan McGurgan, DMin

When we look at the three-year cycle of Sunday readings, it doesn’t take long to figure out that Advent readings are frequently odd,...

susan mcgurgan

Dec 5, 20233 min read

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Advent 1 B ~ "Watchful and Alert" ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

The Advent Season comes in a bifocal way. It comes in a “soft” tone, as the Irish would put it, a time of prayer and reconnecting with...

susan mcgurgan

Nov 27, 20236 min read

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The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe ~ Rev. Benjamin Roberts, DMin

On this Sunday we celebrate the feast of Christ the King. This is the final Sunday of the liturgical year. Next week we will begin the...

susan mcgurgan

Nov 21, 20232 min read

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33 OT A ~ "Money and the Kingdom" ~ Susan McGurgan, DMin

Many of us unconsciously divide our lives into separate, distinct, compartmentalized chunks… There is the spiritual part— AKA, the “good...

susan mcgurgan

Nov 14, 20236 min read

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32 OT A ~ "Maybe it's Not About the Oil" Susan McGurgan, DMin.

As wedding stories go, this particular wedding story is not what you would call, festive. It's frustrating, and even a little, well......

susan mcgurgan

Nov 7, 20234 min read

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31 OT A ~ "Practicing What We Preach" ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

The trajectory from Jesus’ teaching we hear today to our own life together is rather clear and straightforward. St. Matthew tells us of...

susan mcgurgan

Oct 31, 20235 min read

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30 OT A ~ "Another Way" ~ Susan McGurgan, D.Min.

It is hard, this week, to read this passage from Exodus against the grim backdrop of violent images and disturbing updates from Gaza and...

susan mcgurgan

Oct 23, 20234 min read

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Lent 3 B ~ "Gallows-Birds and Other Fools" ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

Lent 2 B ~"The Mt. Moriah Son Test"~ Susan McGurgan, D.Min.

Lent 1 B ~ "This Lent..." ~ Rev. Benjamin Roberts, D.Min.

6 OT B ~ "The God of Mending" ~ Susan McGurgan, D.Min.

5 OT B ~"Not Permitted to Speak" ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

4 OT B ~ "Loose in the Synagogue" ~ Susan McGurgan, D.Min.

3 OT B ~ "...as a Disciple" ~ Rev. Benjamin Roberts, D.Min.

2 OT B ~ "We Need Andrews" ~ Susan McGurgan, D.Min.

The Epiphany of the Lord B ~"Home by Another Way"~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph ~ "Anna" ~Susan McGurgan D.Min.

The Nativity of the Lord ~ "Which Shepherd?" ~ Rev. Benjamin Roberts, D.Min.

Advent 4 B ~ "The Impossible" ~ Susan McGurgan, DMin

Advent 3 B ~ "Rejoicing As We Wait" ~ Rev. Benjamin Roberts, DMin

Advent 2 B ~ "Where God Can Surprise Us, and All Bets are Off" ~ Susan McGurgan, DMin

Advent 1 B ~ "Watchful and Alert" ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe ~ Rev. Benjamin Roberts, DMin

33 OT A ~ "Money and the Kingdom" ~ Susan McGurgan, DMin

32 OT A ~ "Maybe it's Not About the Oil" Susan McGurgan, DMin.

31 OT A ~ "Practicing What We Preach" ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

30 OT A ~ "Another Way" ~ Susan McGurgan, D.Min.

What's New?

New Position for Susan McGurgan
Susan is now the Director of the Preach All Ways Lilly Compelling Preaching Grant and Associate Professor of Theology at Marian University, Indianapolis.

20 OT B ~ "A Deeper Union with Christ" ~ Rev. Benjamin Roberts, D.Min. ~Preach This Week

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Lent 3 B ~ "Gallows-Birds and Other Fools" ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

Lent 2 B ~"The Mt. Moriah Son Test"~ Susan McGurgan, D.Min.

Lent 1 B ~ "This Lent..." ~ Rev. Benjamin Roberts, D.Min.

6 OT B ~ "The God of Mending" ~ Susan McGurgan, D.Min.

5 OT B ~"Not Permitted to Speak" ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

4 OT B ~ "Loose in the Synagogue" ~ Susan McGurgan, D.Min.

3 OT B ~ "...as a Disciple" ~ Rev. Benjamin Roberts, D.Min.

2 OT B ~ "We Need Andrews" ~ Susan McGurgan, D.Min.

The Epiphany of the Lord B ~"Home by Another Way"~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph ~ "Anna" ~Susan McGurgan D.Min.

The Nativity of the Lord ~ "Which Shepherd?" ~ Rev. Benjamin Roberts, D.Min.

Advent 4 B ~ "The Impossible" ~ Susan McGurgan, DMin

Advent 3 B ~ "Rejoicing As We Wait" ~ Rev. Benjamin Roberts, DMin

Advent 2 B ~ "Where God Can Surprise Us, and All Bets are Off" ~ Susan McGurgan, DMin

Advent 1 B ~ "Watchful and Alert" ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe ~ Rev. Benjamin Roberts, DMin

33 OT A ~ "Money and the Kingdom" ~ Susan McGurgan, DMin

32 OT A ~ "Maybe it's Not About the Oil" Susan McGurgan, DMin.

31 OT A ~ "Practicing What We Preach" ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

30 OT A ~ "Another Way" ~ Susan McGurgan, D.Min.

What's New?

New Position for Susan McGurgan Susan is now the Director of the Preach All Ways Lilly Compelling Preaching Grant and Associate Professor of Theology at Marian University, Indianapolis. 20 OT B ~ "A Deeper Union with Christ" ~ Rev. Benjamin Roberts, D.Min. ~Preach This Week

Subscribe Form

New Position for Susan McGurgan
Susan is now the Director of the Preach All Ways Lilly Compelling Preaching Grant and Associate Professor of Theology at Marian University, Indianapolis.

20 OT B ~ "A Deeper Union with Christ" ~ Rev. Benjamin Roberts, D.Min. ~Preach This Week