On the Sunday after Epiphany the Western Church celebrates the Baptism of the Lord. For the Eastern Church, Epiphany itself, January 6, is focused on this same event. And as I’ve noted before, in the East this celebration is a very big deal — along with Christmas and Easter it is a the top of […]
Monday Meditation: RCL Year A, Advent 4, Matthew 1:18-25
On the Fourth Sunday of Advent we finally seem to find what we thought the season was for: We are anticipating the birth of Jesus. This is the week of his first “advent,” or “arrival,” among us. The lectionary Gospel readings brought us here through a hurky-jerky journey. It is “Year A,” when the texts […]
Monday Meditation: RCL Year A, Advent 3, Matthew 11:2-11
The word “advent” means “arrival.” It is a season for waiting. Throughout the four weeks we are waiting in different ways for Jesus, whose first arrival is celebrated at Christmas. While we wait, we have questions. So does our text. On Advent 1 the lectionary Gospel had us in the present, waiting for Christ’s 2nd […]
Monday Meditation: RCL Year A, Advent 2, 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 […]
Monday Meditation: RCL Year A, Advent 1, Matthew 24:36-44
Hey, this Sunday is the beginning of Advent! If you take your cues from the general culture you might think we were well into Christmas. The stores have been selling decorations and playing Christmas music since the day after Halloween. But the church doesn’t begin the 12 days of Christmas until December 25. The four […]
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