See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; he … Continue reading “…And He Shall Purify”
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and … Continue reading The Last–and First–Word
Need ideas for the lectionary (RCL) text this week? Go to “Menu” and “Lectionary Sermons” for my weekly posting. It was a fiercely cold, December Sunday afternoon when my four-year-old granddaughter Rydia spent a few hours with me, stirring batter for Christmas bread, listening to the Advent IV Bible story, hunting for objects in an “I Spy” book, playing “you can’t catch me.” We … Continue reading She Knows
Need ideas for the lectionary text this week? Go to “Menu” and “Lectionary Sermons” for my weekly posting. In Jesus’ conception, there is one virgin being prepared. In a haunting parable (Matt 25.1-13) about the end times, there are ten virgins, five of whom are properly prepared. In the manner of armchair lectionary critics, I might have placed the parable in Advent. But there … Continue reading Advent Oil
Luke 1:26-56 She was an ordinary girl. We remind ourselves of it every year at this time. We know nothing about Mary except that she was pledged to be married to Joseph. Later on we get a few hints about her personality, and there is one clue even in the annunciation—the encounter with the angel Gabriel. When he told Mary that God was pleased with … Continue reading Same Song, Next Verse
saint sinner seeker 