January 27, 2023

“Papa don’t preach I’m in trouble deep, Papa don’t preach I’m losing sleep.” Madonna, now 65, is going on tour. That one is from 1986. One definition of preach in the Oxford English Dictionary is “to give someone advice on moral standards, behavior, etc., especially in a way that they find annoying or boring.” Ha!

That is a sad commentary on what passes for preaching, for it is so far from the heart of God. Here is what the prophet calls preaching – “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation.” (Isaiah 52:7)

Good news. Proclaimed peace. Good tidings. Salvation. Get up and walk out when you hear anything less.

“Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Third Sunday after the Epiphany – BCP)