Gary Neal Hansen

Theology. It's good for you.

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You are here: Home / Archives for John the Baptist

Not the Light — John 1:6-8, 19-28

December 7, 2020 by Gary Neal Hansen 2 Comments

not the light

The discussion of John the Baptist as “not the light” but rather “a witness to testify to the light” is missing its context. In year C, the Gospel for the third Sunday of Advent is John 1:6-8 and 19-28, the parts of Gospel’s prologue about John the Baptist, and leaving out the parts directly about […]

Filed Under: Bible, Church Year, Monday Meditation Tagged With: John 6:1-8 19-28, John the Baptist

Monday Meditation: RCL Year A, Advent 2, Matthew 3:1-12

December 5, 2019 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

Matthew 3:1-12

Locusts & Honey. Mmm… It’s easy to get sidetracked by the odd details about John the Baptist: He wore that stylish camel’s hair jacket with a nice leather belt. And he ate a high protein diet featuring insects — and like the kid’s poem about keeping peas on one’s knife, John improved their taste with […]

Filed Under: Bible, Church Year, Monday Meditation Tagged With: Advent 1, Advent 2, John the Baptist, Matthew 3:1-12, RCL Year A

Monday Meditation: RCL Year C, Advent 3, Luke 3:7-18

December 11, 2018 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

Luke 3:7-18

On the third Sunday of Advent in Year C, the lectionary continues Luke’s telling of the story of John the Baptist’s ministry. That’s right: a month into the period where every store and many a radio station plays nothing but Christmas carols, the Church steadfastly resists. No baby in Bethlehem just yet. We wait, on […]

Filed Under: Bible, Church Year, Monday Meditation Tagged With: Advent 3, John the Baptist, John the Forerunner, Luke 3:7-18, RCL Year C

Monday Meditation: RCL Year C, Advent 2, Luke 3:1-6

December 4, 2018 by Gary Neal Hansen 4 Comments

Last week, as Advent began, the lectionary Gospel turned our focus from the present to the future. If we were expecting something about a baby in a manger we were disappointed. We were firmly planted in this present troubled world, looking for  Christ’s coming at the end of the age. On the Second Sunday of […]

Filed Under: Bible, Church Year, Monday Meditation Tagged With: 2nd Sunday of Advent, John the Baptist, Luke 3:1-6, RCL Year C

Monday Meditation: RCL Year B, 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Mark 6:14-29

July 10, 2018 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

Mark 6:16-29

This Sunday’s lectionary Gospel text is an odd one. Go read Mark 6:14-29 for yourself and let me know if you think so too. I’ll wait. Doo dee doo, dee dee dum … Okay, you’re back. Why is it an odd text? Here’s why I think it’s odd: Jesus doesn’t show up. Mark 6:14-29 It […]

Filed Under: Bible, Church Year, Iconography, Monday Meditation, Saints Tagged With: John the Baptist, John the Forerunner, Mark 6:14-29, RCL 15th Sunday of Ordinary Time

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Theology. It’s good for you.

I'm a Church historian by trade. My writing, speaking, and teaching explores the Christian past to equip today's disciples. Join me here for regular posts on the best of theology, spirituality, community, and ministry. read more…

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