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 […]
These prayers are based largely on the Hebrew Bible Advent lessons for Year B. The body of the prayers will stay the same through Advent, but the initiating and concluding prayers will change, week by week. On this site there is also • a reflection on the Hebrew Bible Lesson for the same day, and. • a reflection on the Gospel Lesson for the same day. Celebrant In the hushed anticipation of your coming, O […]
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, […]
The following is a reflection on Psalm 100, the psalm appointed for November 20th, 2011, Christ the King Sunday, Year A according to the New Revised Common Lectionary. On this site there is also • a reflection on the Gospel Lesson for the same day. The four verses which make up this little psalm, pack a punch. And, because these four verses are so rich and deep, there are so many things that can be […]
The following is a reflection on Matthew 25:31-46, the Gospel lesson appointed for November 20th, 2011, Christ the King Sunday, Year A according to the New Revised Common Lectionary. On this site there is also • a reflection on the Psalm for the same day. Jesus talks about salvation in different contexts to different audiences and in different ways throughout the Gospels. Sometimes he’s pretty cryptic. Sometimes he’s a little clearer. Sometimes he speaks in […]
The following is a reflection on Matthew 25:14-30, the Gospel lesson appointed for November 13th, 2011, Proper 28, Year A according to the New Revised Common Lectionary. On this site there is also • a reflection on the Hebrew Bible lesson for the same day. The NRSV, which I reflexively use for sermon prep (along with the ESV), unfortunately gets this text wrong—or at the least it obscures it’s meaning by translating “pistos” as “trustworthy.” […]
The following is a reflection on Judges 4:1-7, the Hebrew Bible lesson appointed for November 13th, 2011, Proper 28, Year A according to the New Revised Common Lectionary. On this site there is also • a reflection on the Gospel Lesson for the same day. Unfortunately, there aren’t many heroines in the Bible. Don’t get me wrong–there are some great ones, for sure. However, the cast of characters in the Bible is largely a male […]