At Hand
Third Sunday in Advent: Epistle, Philippians 4:4-7 Philippians 4:4-7 The Lord has brought us to a passage in this Advent season that speaks, perhaps in a veiled way of the blessings of His incarnation. We...
Kingly Gift
Third Sunday in Advent: Old Testament, Zephaniah 3:14-20 Zephaniah 3:14-20 Two verses from the reading above. Verses 14-15 read: “Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; Shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has taken...
Answers in His Return
Second Sunday in Advent: Gospel, Luke 3:1-14 Luke 3:1-14 Advent and Christmas bring wondrous readings from the Scriptures as the church gathers to listen with God’s blessing. The nativity narratives, the entry of the King into His city, and the linking of the people of God...
A Blessed View
Second Sunday in Advent: Psalms, Psalm 66:1-12 Psalm 66:1-12 This cycle of our lectionary, the theme for this Sunday is the judgment of God in the coming of His Son. The readings point to its certainty but also to the...
Justice
Second Sunday in Advent: Old Testament, Malachi 3:1-7b Malachi 3:1-7b There is a lot of clamor in our world today about justice. Criminal, International, Social and a myriad of...
Speaking Stones
First Sunday in Advent: Gospel, Luke 19:28-40 Luke 19:28-40 Jesus is coming into His own. Well, at least in one sense. He is the rightful King of Israel and He is entering His capital city. He is cheered by adoring...
God is Love
First Sunday in Advent: Epistle, 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 God is love. So declares the apostle John in his first letter general to the entire church. In our reading for this week, the apostle Paul teaches the fruit of that great declaration...
Gospel at the Outset
First Sunday in Advent: Old Testament, Jeremiah 33:14-16 Jeremiah 33:14-16 Here we begin once again a new church year. And the voice which rings through our first meditation, our first preparation if you will, is that of dear old...
Our Job
Last Sunday of the Church Year: Gospel, Mark 13:24-37 Mark 13:24-37 “Lord, will it be today?” So asked one of my dear seminary professors each morning as he rose for each new day before him. He taught us to love the appearing of...
King
Last Sunday of the Church Year: Psalm, Psalm 93 Psalm 93 Our psalm for the week, this special week, says it all. And you don’t have to traverse very far into the text of this ancient hymn to get the message. “The LORD reigns...
