I just looked up what I'm preaching on for homelitics in just under three weeks. We drew dates at random, and I have to pretend I'm doing a midweek eucharist on December 26. Six minutes (but I talk fast so I probably have to write twice as much as a normal person) on this:
Matthew 23:34-39 Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'" [NIV, because I was using Bible Gateway which doesn't have the NRSV]
It's the feast of St. Stephen, who ended badly in the day's reading from Acts, the account of which includes a phrase that I just don't use enough, "You stiffnecked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears!"
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