Month: December 2019
-
First Sunday after Christmas (Matthew 2:13-23)
On Christmas Day, the Holy Evangelist John said to us, “He came to his own, and his own did not receive him.” This didn’t start once Jesus began to preach and teach; it began that silent, holy night in Bethlehem. When the magi arrived in the capital of Israel, it wasn’t just Herod who was…
-
The Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord (Hebrews 1:1-11)
If you don’t want to offend people’s religious tastes, talk about angels. Everybody loves angels—from your new age chiropractor to your spiritual-but-not-religious cousin. It’s nice to think about guardian angels, even if you have no other duty to God, to hope you have allies in the spiritual realm. It’s a nice idea to think that…
-
Eve of the Nativity of Our Lord (Titus 2:11-14)
There are a lot of things that are funny, and there are a lot of things to criticize in the world. Lord knows we’re experts at it in our day. But suddenly something that used to be funny or despised takes on a whole new light when it touches our life. For example, the bumper…
-
Fourth Sunday in Advent (Matthew 1:18-25)
Our Gospel reading falls nearly at the beginning of Matthew’s Gospel. What comes very first is the introduction: “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” (Matt. 1:1) Recall the promise given to Abraham: “In you and in your Offspring, all the families of the earth will…
-
Advent III Midweek (Numbers 24:1-3-9, 15-19 )
“Israel will overcome all hostility and in the latter days, God will raise up a Ruler who will let His kingdom come” We’ve heard from God’s unlikely mouthpiece two times now, and today a third and fourth time. From the beginning, Balaam has been an eccentric figure who is more of a soothsayer for hire…
-
Third Sunday in Advent (Isaiah 35:1-10)
In the spring of 2016, Death Valley in California saw an unusual sight: a “super bloom.” Conditions came together which brought out a huge number of flowers besides the standby desert gold. Photographers descended on the valley and captured beautiful hills of mariposa lilies and sunbonnets. It was truly a rare event. The description given…
-
Advent II Midweek (Numbers 23:13-26)
“Israel has the assurance of God’s unfailing promises” In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. In a world of sin, failings, decay, and death, God reveals Himself through His promises. This was true from the moment our first parents brought sin and death into the world. The Lord was right there, promising a Seed who…
-
Second Sunday in Advent (Text: Matthew 3:1-12)
John the Baptist’s appearance is jarring. There’s no getting comfortable around a man who wears camel fur and eats nothing but bugs and honey. But why? I’m sure there’s someone weirder in Portland. John is uncomfortable because of what his image brings up. He eats locusts, and yet he preaches a plague far greater than…
-
Advent Midweek I (Text: Numbers 23:5-12 )
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The story of Balaam is certainly a colorful one. Balak, king of Moab is looking out for his kingdom, and he sees from the Amorites that, militarily, he’s up a creek. So, he wisely chooses another method—an appeal straight to the top. So, Balak gets ahold of someone…
-
First Sunday in Advent (Text: Matthew 21:1-11)
Happy New Year! No, really! What? You think I’m crazy and I better check my calendar. I have. The Church has a calendar she follows. It’s not one that competes with January-December. It’s like the fiscal calendar or the school calendar, but more. The Church Year centers around the events in the Life of Jesus,…