Writing

Devotional Reflection, Monday, July 20, 2026 Proper 11, the week of the eighth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 40Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, ‘So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? 41Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.’ 42Again he went away for the second time and pr

Devotional Reflection, Friday, July 16, 2026 Proper 10, the week of the seventh Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 19So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal. 20When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; 21and while they were eating, he said, ‘Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.’ 22And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him on

Devotional Reflection, Thursday, July 16, 2026 Proper 10, The week of the seventh Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 6 Now while Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, 7a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table. 8But when the disciples saw it, they were angry. . . . 10But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, ‘Why do

Devotional Reflection, Wednesday, July 15, 2026 Proper 10, the week of the seventh Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 34Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed m

Reflection Devotional, Tuesday, July 14, 2026 Proper 10, the week of the seventh after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 14 ‘For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; . . . .to each according to his ability. Then he went away. . . . 19After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. . . . 24Then the one who had received the one ta

Devotional Reflection, Monday, July 13, 2026 Proper 10, the week of the seventh Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 10And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. 11Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, “Lord, lord, open to us.” 12But he replied, “Truly I tell you, I do not know you.” 13Keep awake therefor

Devotional Reflection, Friday, July 12, 2024 Proper 9, the week of the sixth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 6But the righteousness that comes from faith says, ‘Do not say in your heart, “Who will ascend into heaven?”’ (that is, to bring Christ down) 7‘or “Who will descend into the abyss?”’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, on your lips and in your

Devotional Reflection, Wednesday, July 8, 2026 Proper 9, the week of the sixth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of filth. . . . .29Woe to you, scribes, Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and

Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, July 7, 2026 Proper 9, the week of the seventh Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 35Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.’ 37No, in all these things we are more than c

Devotional Reflection, Monday, July 6, 2026 Proper 9, the week of the sixth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of

Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, June 30, 2026 Proper 8, the week of the fifth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 23 When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?’ You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading at the end of this reflection. Daily Offic

Devotional Reflection, Monday, June 29, 2026 Proper 8, the week of the fifth Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 12 Then Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who were selling and buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those who sold doves. 13He said to them, ‘It is written, “My house shall be called a house of prayer”; but you are making it a den of rob

Devotional Reflection, Friday, June 12. 2026 Proper 5, the week of the third Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading; 6:1My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. 2Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. You will find the full text

Devotional Reflection, Thursday, June 11, 2026 Proper 5, the week of the third Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 16Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh. . . .the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and

Devotional Reflection, Wednesday, June 12, 2024 Proper 5, the week of the third Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 11 Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favour to the skillful; but time and chance happen to them all. 12For no one can anticipate the time of disaster. Like fish taken in a cruel ne

Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, June 9, 2026 Proper 5, the week of the third Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 29 After Jesus had left that place, he passed along the Sea of Galilee, and he went up the mountain, where he sat down. 30Great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the mute, and many others. They put them at his feet, and he cured them, 31so that the crowd was a

Devotional Reflection, Monday, June 8, 2026 Proper 5, the week of the third Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 19 My little children, for whom I am again in the pain of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, 20I wish I were present with you now and could change my tone, for I am perplexed about you. You will find the full text of today’s epistle reading at the end of this reflection. Daily Office Lection

Devotional Reflection, Friday, June 5, 2026 Proper 4, the week of the second Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading: 28Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ 29He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord,

Devotional Reflection,Thursday, June 4, 2026 Proper 4, the week of the Second Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading: 14When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. 15When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, ‘This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for them

Devotional Reflection, Wednesday, June 3, 2026 Proper 4, the week of the second Sunday after Pentecost The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D. Key phrases for reflection from today’s Old Testament reading: 3For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4a time to weep, and a ti