Isaiah 43:1-7; Psalm 29; Acts 8:14-17; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 Year C Do not fear. I have called you by name. You are mine. All the people were filled with expectation. Heaven opened. The Holy Spirit descended. God spoke. Would that all Sundays were as jam packed with divine super powers as Baptism of the Lord Sunday. Water, fire, Spirit, dove, Godly proclamation and affirmation. All those gathered that day around the river Jordan witnessed these supernatural phenomena. Would that all our worship services were so undeniably infused with the presence of the Triune God. If I surveyed those in the pews of congregations like the ones I know best – those mainline, now dubbed oldline, Protestant congregations located up and down main streets of towns and cities across American – and asked for one word to describe worship, what would it be? Take moment and answer for yourself. What’s the first word that comes to mind? Be honest. Was it “boring”? Maybe “cerebral”? Please don’t get me … [Read more...]

Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12 Epiphany Year C Nations shall come to your light. Gentiles have become fellow heirs. Wise men came from the East. On Epiphany, this first Sunday of 2019, it appears that God relished diversity and inclusion long before such goals became the responsibility of human resource departments, college administrators and appointed faith leaders. God shines light upon the people of Israel not for their own sake alone, but for the sake of the nations. So reflective of God’s glory will the Jewish people be that other peoples will be drawn to them and these other peoples shall also be radiant as a result. Paul tells the readers of his letter to the Ephesians the reason he is a prisoner for Christ Jesus is for the sake of the Gentiles. All he endures and undertakes brings the Gentiles closer to Christ and to God’s light bearing chosen ones in order that all will be members of the same body. Those who have been far off will now be brought close — … [Read more...]

1 Samuel 2:18-20; Colossians 3:12-17; Luke 2:41-52 Christmas 1C “He has a profound, profound faith. All were moved by the depth of his faith that God's hand had a part in this.” Ruben Garcia of Annunciation House in El Paso, Texas, was speaking to reporters about Nery Caal Cuz, the 29-year-old father of 7-year-old Jakelin Caal Maquin. Jakelin died while in the custody of the United States Border Patrol shortly after crossing into the United States with her dad. They made the journey from Guatemala. Her grandfather said that the little girl was excited to be migrating. Vox reported, “She was going from a life where her family of seven survived on $5 a day – and where she’d never owned a toy or a pair of shoes – to one where she hoped she’d learn to read and write, and, eventually, join her father in making money to send to their family back home.” "My wife called me crying out of happiness (because) she's going to see her son for the last time!" says Ali. Ali Hassan is the … [Read more...]

Micah 5:2-5a; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-55 Advent 4C Women blessed by God accomplish the previously unimaginable. “Silent Night, Holy Night!” – one of the most popular Christmas carols – describes Mary as “yon virgin.” Another, “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming”calls her “the virgin mother kind.” And “Once in Royal David’s City”tells us “Mary was that mother mild.” Then, “In the Bleak Midwinter” has Mary “in her maiden bliss” worshipping Jesus “with a kiss.” Finally, “Gentle Mary Laid Her Child” reveals in the title the assessment of Mary’s demeanor: gentle. It is no wonder then, when we envision Mary, we picture meek, mild, gentle, young and vulnerable. Artists through the ages depict Mary as either the maiden terrified by the angel at the annunciation or the new mother cradling her baby in bliss. The Magnificat, however, paints a different image of Mary, the mother of God. So do the connections to other blessed among women in the Bible. Hannah, yes, the woman once so … [Read more...]

Zephaniah 3:14-20; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18 Advent 3C Rejoice, you brood of vipers there is still time to repent! I love the juxtaposition of this week’s lectionary readings. Zephaniah says sing and shout, be renewed in God’s love. I will bring you home. Joy and love and home. Nice. Then the epistle reading from Philippians tells us to rejoice in the Lord always, again, I say rejoice! Do not worry. Pray. Peace will guard your hearts and minds in Jesus Christ. Lovely. Then we come to the Gospel lesson, Luke’s version of John the Baptist hard at work. John’s opening salvo might not draw a receptive crowd today: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” Not even the Grinch gets this in-your-face during the holiday season. Rejoice…rejoice…wrath. One of these things in not like the others. But here it is, Advent after Advent, John the Baptist and his surly name-calling. I confess, I am so glad to have John the Baptist in the middle of this … [Read more...]

Malachi 3:1-4; Luke 3:1-6 Advent 2C The timing for John the Baptist to emerge from the wilderness came in the 15th year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius. Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod ruling Galilee. Annas and Caiaphas served as high priests. Luke details the rulers, secular and religious, placing John and his call to prepare the way for the Lord squarely in the middle of worldly events and places, reminding us that God sends messengers smack dab in the center of our earthly activities, too. Preparation for the coming of Jesus happened not only when Tiberius was emperor but also now, in the second year of the presidency of Donald Trump when Nancy Pelosi vies to be Speaker of the House and Pope Francis occupies the Vatican. No time is God forsaken, all time subject to God’s inbreaking. Are we getting ready? The second Sunday of Advent asks us to anticipate the drawing close of the holy in our midst. The texts for this week invite us to listen to the voices of … [Read more...]