Looking into the lectionary - Does God answer Taylor Swift's prayers?

Luke 20:27–38 Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost November 9, 2025 When the Sadducees confront Jesus with an extreme question about marriage and resurrection in Luke 20:27–38, we glimpse how little has changed in more than two millennia. We can almost imagine a similar moment today — like the man outside my hometown football stadium carrying a banner: “Ask me why you’re going to hell.” The Sadducees — who do not believe in the resurrection — try to trap Jesus with a hypothetical. They ask about a woman who, according to Levitical law, has been married to seven brothers, each in turn after the previous one dies. With resurrection, they argue, which brother will be her rightful husband? They expect Jesus to deny either the law or the resurrection. Instead, he expands everyone’s imagination. A story of resistance and freedom To see why Jesus’ response is so revolutionary — especially for women — consider Catherine of Siena. Born in 1347, Catherine was the 25th child in her family — a number that makes most modern bodies tired just hearing it. At the age of 16, Catherine’s parents tried to insist she marry her brother-in-law following the death of her sister, echoing the very situation described by the Sadducees. ... Read the rest of the commentary by Jeny Carlson at pres-outlook.org. Order of worship — November 9, 2025 by Haley Ballast Jürgen Moltmann: Theologian of hope and transformation by Steffen Lösel Does God answer the prayers of a showgirl? by Hannah Lovaglio  Haunted houses and holy moments by Karie Charlton A free Advent candle liturgy by Shardaé Henry and Shea Watts A litany for Reformation Sunday by Susan Carter Wiggins Want the worship resources for November 2, 2025? You can find them here. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... Theology is for the birds … and for me Andrew Taylor-Troutman explores a “living theology” shaped by attention — to creation, to one another, and to the holy particularities that make us who we are. National Fund for Sacred Places to award $8.73 million in grants to 30 congregations with historic buildings Irvington Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis, First Presbyterian Church of Albany, New York, and Third Presbyterian Church in Rochester, New York are among the 2025 grantees. — The National Trust for Historic Preservation Christ in the Rubble: Faith, the Bible, and the Genocide in Gaza Munther Isaac draws upon Martin Luther’s theology of the cross to find Christ in the rubble, in solidarity with those who suffer. Robert A. Cathey offers a review. After clergy arrests, religious pushback to ICE expands in Chicago More than 210 mostly Chicago-area clergy, representing a range of liberal and conservative traditions, have signed a letter criticizing ICE titled ‘Jesus is Being Tear Gassed at Broadview.’ — Jack Jenkins Trans Biblical: New Approaches to Interpretation and Embodiment in Scripture In "Trans Biblical," editors Joseph Marchal, Melissa Sellew and Katy Valentine invite readers to see familiar biblical figures – like Jael, Jacob and Mordecai – in new and life-giving ways. Jo Wiersema offers a review.