Category: Advent
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The Nativity of Our Lord
Readings: Isaiah 52:7-10 | Hebrews 1:1-12 | John 1:1-18 Text: Isaiah 52:7-10 We’ve become accustomed to associating this text with the Gospel because of St. Paul’s quoting it in Romans 10: 13For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”14How then will they call on him in whom they have not…
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Eve of the Nativity of Our Lord
~ Lessons and Carols ~ Readings: Isaiah 7:10-14 | 1 John 4:7-16 | Luke 2:1-20 Text: 1 John 4:7-16 So much of Christmas tradition has become alienated from what this holy day actually commemorates. Some of it comes from past Christian influence, like Paradise Trees laden with fruit and the Eucharist’s food of immortality, like…
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Fourth Sunday in Advent (Advent 4A)
Readings: Isaiah 7:10-17 | Romans 1:1-7 | Matthew 1:18-25 Text: Matthew 1:18-25 The generation of Jesus Christ. What’s in the word generation? It depends upon those who came before it. No matter who our parents are or if they were the ones who raised us, they handed down various things to us—hereditary traits, perhaps even…
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Third Sunday of Advent
Readings: Isaiah 35:1-10 | James 5:7-11 | Matthew 11:2-15 Text: Matthew 11:2-15 The theme for this Sunday is JOY – Historically the first word heard was “Gaudete!” (Latin for Rejoice) – “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice!” (Phil. 4:4) But in the Gospel we have a picture of persecution and uncertainty. …
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Second Sunday in Advent
Readings: Isaiah 11:1-10 | Romans 15:4-13 | Matthew 3:1-12 Text: Matthew 3:1-12 Saint John the Baptizer’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? John is uncomfortable because of what his appearance brings up combined with what he preaches. He…
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First Sunday in Advent
Readings: Isaiah 2:1-5 | Romans 13:(8-10) 11-14 | Matthew 21:1-11 Text: Matthew 21:1-11 This time of looking forward to Christmas is called Advent (from the Latin for arrival). It’s called that because it’s about Jesus’ coming. He came in lowliness in the manger at Bethlehem, just as was promised. “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and…
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The Eve of the Nativity of Our Lord
Readings: Isaiah 11:1-5 | Galatians 4:1-7 | Luke 20:22-40 Text: Matthew 1:18-25 18Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19And her husband Joseph, being a just man…
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Fourth Sunday in Advent
~ Rorate Coeli ~ Readings: Deuteronomy 18:15-19 | Philippians 4:4-7 | Luke 1:39-56 Text: Philippians 4:4-7 No doubt this week, we will be hearing the phrase, “Merry Christmas.” Take a moment to think about it: Is this a statement or a command? I mean, what should you do when there’s nothing to be merry about? When…
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Third Sunday in Advent
~ Gaudete ~ Readings: Isaiah 40:1-11 | 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 | Matthew 11:2-11 Text: Isaiah 40:1-8 It’s important to understand that Isaiah was not preaching at a time of peace in Israel. Not many chapters (chapters 36-37) before this, Isaiah has the job of announcing to the starving, besieged inhabitants of Jerusalem that the Assyrian…
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Second Sunday of Advent
~ Populus Zion ~ Readings: Malachi 4:1-6 | Romans 15:4-13 | Luke 21:25-36 Text: Luke 21:25-36 The return of Christ is utterly inconvenient. It ruins our plans for the future. It ruins all of our imagining that life will just continue as is has been. Most of all, it completely obliterates our delusion that we…