The following is a reflection on Mark 1:4-11, the Gospel Lesson for January 8, 2011 – the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord. Also on this site is a Prayers of the People for All Epiphany. John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized […]
After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And he was called Jesus. It’s a peculiarity that Christianity as we know it came through the furnace of the Latin speaking Roman Empire that we call the Son of God “Jesus.” Unless the Angel Gabriel spoke in Latin to the Virgin Mother, he told […]
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. God created every form of life that swims in the deep, which flies in the sky, and which walks on the land. God created us, molding us out of the dust of the ground, and breathing God’s holy breath into us. And, God created us in God’s image—that we might bear the Holy Image in all the world. God spoke to individuals, and God blessed […]
The following is a reflection on Luke 1:26-38, the Gospel Lesson appointed for December 18th, 2011, the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year B according to the New Revised Common Lectionary. On this site there is also • a version of the Prayers of the People for Advent 4B. She was twelve. Maybe thirteen. That was the typical age of betrothal in her day. And, this little twelve-year-old was betrothed to a man. I remember […]
The following is a reflection on John 1:6-8, 19-28, the Gospel Lesson appointed for December 11th, 2011, the Third Sunday of Advent, Year B according to the New Revised Common Lectionary. On this site there is also • a reflection on the Hebrew Bible Lesson for the same day, and • a version of the Prayers of the People for Advent 3B. There was a man sent from God… That phrase hasn’t sat well with […]
The following is a reflection on Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11, the Hebrew Bible Lesson appointed for December 11th, 2011, the Third Sunday of Advent, Year B according to the New Revised Common Lectionary. On this site there is also • a reflection on the Gospel Lesson for the same day, and • a version of the Prayers of the People for Advent 3B. I love church ruins. I love traveling through the English, Scottish, and Welsh […]
The following is a reflection on Mark 1:1-8, the Gospel Lesson appointed for December 3rd, 2011, the second Sunday of Advent, Year B according to the New Revised Common Lectionary. On this site there is also • a reflection on the Hebrew Bible Lesson for the same day, and • a version of the Prayers of the People for Advent 2B. A few weeks ago a group from my parish met up in New York […]
The following is a reflection on Isaiah 40:1-11, the Hebrew Bible Lesson appointed for December 3rd, 2011, the second Sunday of Advent, Year B according to the New Revised Common Lectionary. On this site there is also • a reflection on the Gospel Lesson for the same day, and • a version of the Prayers of the People for Advent 2B. Israel had sinned, and sinned mightily. God had saved them from Pharaoh’s hand, given […]
The following is a reflection on Mark 13:24-37, the Gospel Lesson appointed for November 27th, 2011, the First Sunday of Advent, Year B according to the New Revised Common Lectionary. On this site there is also • a reflection on the Hebrew Bible Lesson for the same day, and. • a version of the Prayers of the People for the same day. Really, we’ve lost Advent. Society at large doesn’t even consider “Advent,” if society […]
The following is a reflection on Isaiah 64:1-9, the Hebrew Bible Lesson appointed for November 27th, 2011, the First Sunday of Advent, Year B according to the New Revised Common Lectionary. On this site there is also • a reflection on the Gospel Lesson for the same day, and • a version of the Prayers of the People. One of the cornerstones of my understanding of theology in general, and the human condition in particular, […]