Today is the twelfth and last day of the Feast of Christmas. One last day to rejoice in the incarnation of God, munch one more Christmas cookie, open one more present, if there are any left under the tree, if the tree is still standing. Or simply sit back and delight in this…
Today is the fifth day of Christmas, and I hope you’re still going strong with the holy days now that the holidays are behind us. It makes me sad to see the Christmas trees already curbed for the trash man. It’s like baseball fans who go home in the sixth inning to beat…
Before there’s a birth, there has to be a conception. Nine months usually, give or take a few weeks. That’s why this morning’s Gospel is traditionally read on March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation, the day Mary heard the Word of God through the angel and conceived the Son of God, our…
Witness. What comes to your mind when you hear that word “witness”? The courtroom, perhaps. You think of that person sitting on the witness stand who is under oath to tell “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” A witness is someone who speaks about what he or…
Preparation. The season of Advent is about preparation. Preparing for the holidays and the holy days of Christmas. Preparing for the end of all things and the coming of Jesus in glory. Preparing the way of parents expecting their first child prepare - with anticipation, excitement, fear, and joy all at…
Today’s Gospel is about Jesus’ cleansing of the temple. It’s not the kind of Jesus we like to hear about, this Jesus who takes a bunch of cords and turns them into a whip and drives out the sheep and the oxen and those who were selling them and turns over the tables…
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.
The Word became flesh and dwelt (ejskhnwsen, tabernacled)among us, full of grace and…
One of the comforting things about the Gospel narrative is how slow Jesus’ disciples are in getting the good news of Jesus. From Mark’s perspective, the disciples never quite get it, even at the resurrection. Matthew suggests the same thing. Luke tells us that things really didn’t click until Pentecost, and even…
This was the second time the disciples heard Jesus speak of His death and resurrection. “The Son of Man must be handed over into the hands of men, be killed, and they will kill Him, and after He is killed, He will rise again after three days.” There was no mistaking what Jesus was…
The highest form of fellowship is at the table, to eat and drink together. Candlelight dinners. Power lunches. Wedding receptions. Funeral receptions. Thanksgiving dinner. Christmas dinner. Easter dinner. “Let’s do lunch.” The early church always ate together as part of their gathering. Whether in work…