Exegesis | Preaching Hope

32nd Sunday OT B ~ "Clatter and Clink" ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

Jesus was once again in the Temple during that Holy Week. He was sitting and watching people tossing their offerings into large brass...

susan mcgurgan

Nov 1, 20216 min read

31 Sunday OT B ~ "Mirror, Mirror" ~ Susan McGurgan

When I was a girl, I hated my hair. Seriously... Hated it. You see, when I was growing up, every girl dreamed of looking like Peggy...

susan mcgurgan

Oct 25, 20214 min read

30th Sunday OT B ~ "Hawkeye vs. Scaredy-Cat" ~ Rev. Jim Schmitmeyer

Last week’s gospel focused on two apostles who were brothers, James and John. They were known as the Sons of Thunder. Today we encounter...

susan mcgurgan

Oct 18, 20213 min read

"It’s About Time: A reflection on homily preparation" ~ Susan McGurgan

In 1940, my Uncle Ray, a young Methodist pastor, was named interim pastor of a thriving community in Kansas, an assignment that usually...

susan mcgurgan

Oct 13, 20213 min read

29th Sunday OT B ~ "The Cup of True Love" ~ Rev. Jim Schmitmeyer

Some people live their lives with a sense of dread. The world they inhabit feels unpredictable and unsafe. Even on sunny days, they scan...

susan mcgurgan

Oct 11, 20212 min read

28th Sunday OT B ~ "Camels and Needles and Loopholes" ~ Susan McGurgan

It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Ever since Jesus...

susan mcgurgan

Oct 4, 20215 min read

27 OT B "Partners" ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

James Weldon Johnson tells the backdrop of our creation story in the voice of the folk tradition of African American preachers: He looked...

susan mcgurgan

Sep 27, 20215 min read

26 OT B ~ "My Lord, Stop Them!" ~ Susan McGurgan

He’s not one of us, Jesus. They’re outside the tent, Moses. She’s in a different parish, Father. My Lord, stop them! There is something...

susan mcgurgan

Sep 20, 20213 min read

25 OT B ~ "Do you Like Strawberries?" ~ Rev. Jim Schmitmeyer

“He stood the child in their midst, and said to his disciples, ‘Whoever receives a child such as this in my name, welcomes me.’” We’ve...

susan mcgurgan

Sep 13, 20212 min read

24th OT B ~ "Who?" ~ Susan McGurgan

But who do you say that I am? She had gone to church her whole life. The flicker of candles and the smell of beeswax; the light glancing...

susan mcgurgan

Sep 6, 20213 min read

23rd Sunday OT B ~ "Beyond Astonishment”~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

Jesus had completed his ministry among the Gentiles after the healing of the Syrophoenician Woman’s daughter in Tyre. At least that is...

susan mcgurgan

Aug 30, 20215 min read

22nd Sunday OT B ~ "Chipped, Mended, Buried, Flushed...and Called" ~ Dr. Susan McGurgan

When her sons were little, she lived in a neighborhood and worshipped in a parish that honed competitive parenting to a fine art. The...

susan mcgurgan

Aug 24, 20214 min read

22nd Sunday OT B ~ "Kicked in the Mouth" ~ Rev. Jim Schmitmeyer

In the Book of Psalms, there’s a verse that says: “Lord, set a guard at the door of his mouth.” In other words, help me from committing...

susan mcgurgan

Aug 24, 20213 min read

21st OT B ~ "Lost Friend" ~ Rev. Jim Schmitmeyer

In today’s gospel, we read these words: Many of his disciples returned to their former way of life. Picture the scene in your mind....

susan mcgurgan

Aug 16, 20213 min read

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary "The Place Called Barren" ~ Susan McGurgan

The hill country of Judea is the just about the last place you would expect to find a prophecy fulfilled or a miracle revealed. The...

susan mcgurgan

Aug 9, 20213 min read

A Homiletical Exegesis: John 6:60-69 21st Sunday in OT~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

If you preached the lections of The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary last week, the sequence set for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary...

susan mcgurgan

Aug 9, 202110 min read

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time "Real Hunger, Real Food" ~ Rev. Jim Schmitmeyer

There are two kinds of movies. The first kind of movie entertains you. It’s designed to make you feel good…and to make Hollywood a lot of...

susan mcgurgan

Aug 2, 20213 min read

Homiletical Exegesis: John 6:41-51 ~ 19th Sunday OT B ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

The Gospel lection for this Sunday in Ordinary Time signals an end to Jesus’ first Bread of Life “homily” and now both shifts the...

susan mcgurgan

Aug 2, 20218 min read

Exegesis for 18 OT B John 6:24-35 ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

The Bread of Life Discourse immediately follows the Miraculous Feeding account of John 1:1-18 (Year B, 17th in OT) in the Lectionary. It...

susan mcgurgan

Jul 27, 20218 min read

18th Sunday OT B "First Steps" ~ Rev. Jim Schmitmeyer

You’ve heard the phrase: “Stepping out in faith.” It’s similar to another phrase in a song we often sing in church: “We walk by faith,...

susan mcgurgan

Jul 26, 20212 min read

32nd Sunday OT B ~ "Clatter and Clink" ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

31 Sunday OT B ~ "Mirror, Mirror" ~ Susan McGurgan

30th Sunday OT B ~ "Hawkeye vs. Scaredy-Cat" ~ Rev. Jim Schmitmeyer

"It’s About Time: A reflection on homily preparation" ~ Susan McGurgan

29th Sunday OT B ~ "The Cup of True Love" ~ Rev. Jim Schmitmeyer

28th Sunday OT B ~ "Camels and Needles and Loopholes" ~ Susan McGurgan

27 OT B "Partners" ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

26 OT B ~ "My Lord, Stop Them!" ~ Susan McGurgan

25 OT B ~ "Do you Like Strawberries?" ~ Rev. Jim Schmitmeyer

24th OT B ~ "Who?" ~ Susan McGurgan

23rd Sunday OT B ~ "Beyond Astonishment”~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

22nd Sunday OT B ~ "Chipped, Mended, Buried, Flushed...and Called" ~ Dr. Susan McGurgan

22nd Sunday OT B ~ "Kicked in the Mouth" ~ Rev. Jim Schmitmeyer

21st OT B ~ "Lost Friend" ~ Rev. Jim Schmitmeyer

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary "The Place Called Barren" ~ Susan McGurgan

A Homiletical Exegesis: John 6:60-69 21st Sunday in OT~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time "Real Hunger, Real Food" ~ Rev. Jim Schmitmeyer

Homiletical Exegesis: John 6:41-51 ~ 19th Sunday OT B ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

Exegesis for 18 OT B John 6:24-35 ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

18th Sunday OT B "First Steps" ~ Rev. Jim Schmitmeyer

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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32nd Sunday OT B ~ "Clatter and Clink" ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

31 Sunday OT B ~ "Mirror, Mirror" ~ Susan McGurgan

30th Sunday OT B ~ "Hawkeye vs. Scaredy-Cat" ~ Rev. Jim Schmitmeyer

"It’s About Time: A reflection on homily preparation" ~ Susan McGurgan

29th Sunday OT B ~ "The Cup of True Love" ~ Rev. Jim Schmitmeyer

28th Sunday OT B ~ "Camels and Needles and Loopholes" ~ Susan McGurgan

27 OT B "Partners" ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

26 OT B ~ "My Lord, Stop Them!" ~ Susan McGurgan

25 OT B ~ "Do you Like Strawberries?" ~ Rev. Jim Schmitmeyer

24th OT B ~ "Who?" ~ Susan McGurgan

23rd Sunday OT B ~ "Beyond Astonishment”~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

22nd Sunday OT B ~ "Chipped, Mended, Buried, Flushed...and Called" ~ Dr. Susan McGurgan

22nd Sunday OT B ~ "Kicked in the Mouth" ~ Rev. Jim Schmitmeyer

21st OT B ~ "Lost Friend" ~ Rev. Jim Schmitmeyer

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary "The Place Called Barren" ~ Susan McGurgan

A Homiletical Exegesis: John 6:60-69 21st Sunday in OT~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time "Real Hunger, Real Food" ~ Rev. Jim Schmitmeyer

Homiletical Exegesis: John 6:41-51 ~ 19th Sunday OT B ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

Exegesis for 18 OT B John 6:24-35 ~ Rev. Richard Eslinger

18th Sunday OT B "First Steps" ~ Rev. Jim Schmitmeyer

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