Isaiah 40:1-11
Advent 2B
[…] as the Son of God prepares to return to judge the living and the dead. If looking ahead to an apocalyptic time seems at variance with “the Christmas spirit,” then week two of Advent may seem that way, too, as we are thrown out into the wilderness where grass withers and flowers fade and […]
Isaiah 52:7-10
Christmas Day A
[…] a Savior who would rescue God’s adopted sons and daughters from our sins. Yet the situation of some of God’s children today is little better, even on Christmas morning, 2016. People have wrapped some of us in the chains of oppression. Poverty, neglect and racial prejudice have also tried to claim some of us […]
Isaiah 40:1-11
Advent 2B
[…] as the Son of God prepares to return to judge the living and the dead. If looking ahead to an apocalyptic time seems at variance with “the Christmas spirit,” then week two of Advent may seem that way, too, as we are thrown out into the wilderness where grass withers and flowers fade and […]
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Advent 1B
[…] our Lord Jesus Christ.” That is Advent language. This text can help us remember that Advent is not just about the first coming of the Christ at Christmas, but also about his second coming at the Parousia (which, of course, was the focus of the RCL at the end of this liturgical year). A […]
Galatians 4:4-7
Christmas 1B
[…] So Paul spends almost the entire first four chapters of Galatians hammering away at the why and the how of this bad idea. On the Sunday after Christmas for which this Galatians 4 passage is assigned for the Lectionary, we have the opportunity to see in the birth of the Messiah the glorious conferring […]
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
Advent 1B
[…] James, and John saw the truly blinding nature of Christ’s glory as it shone from the face of the glorified Jesus. All of that has Advent and Christmas resonances for certain. But one suspects that another reason for connecting Psalm 80 to Advent is from what we read in verses 17 and 18 where […]
Psalm 80:1-7
Advent 4C
[…] psalm. It is filled with dark and bitter imagery. It is written from the depths of sorrow. All in all, in short, this does not feel terribly Christmas-like. Probably most preachers will opt for the alternative reading of Mary’s “Magnificat” (see above for the link to a commentary on that). But when you think […]
Micah 5:2-5a
Advent 4C
[…] the sanctuary or in order to understand the messages that we preach. Few times of the year tempt us more in that direction, however, than Advent and Christmas. I suspect that I need not detail the reasons why. But it’s a temptation to resist at this time above all times. If Christ cannot be […]
Jeremiah 33:14-16
Advent 1C
[…] things, nevertheless proclaim words of hope. But then, aren’t those precisely the situations where one needs to find hope? As we begin to celebrate Advent and then Christmas once again, we know full well that not all the forced Christmas “cheer” in the world can cover up or finally compensate for the gloominess and […]
Psalm 126
Advent 3B
[…] joy, joy; “songs of joy” three times and “we are filled with joy” in the theme verse (verse 3). This is appropriate. As we get closer to Christmas, the church’s mood should rise. After all, we are about to sing, “Joy to the World, the Lord is come.” What a surprise, then, that verse […]
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