~ Luke 1:39-55 ~ About nine months before Christmas day, Mary went to see her cousin, Elizabeth. Mary told Elizabeth about the visit from the angel Gabriel. Luke’s Gospel then says, “…and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among … Read More
~ Luke 3:7-18 ~ We live in a time of outrageous rhetoric; indeed, a time of dangerous rhetoric. Intended to provoke, rile up, get people downright angry, such speech is flying around all over the place. TV and radio talk show hosts, politicians, candidates for president, one especially, who shall … Read More
Luke 3:1-6/Luke 1:68-79 The BBC commentator described it quite succinctly: “Just another day in the United States of America. Another day of gunfire, panic and fear.” Thus, yet another mass shooting, this time in San Bernardino, assaulted our world. Linda and I have friends who live in Redlands who have … Read More
~ Luke 21:25-36 ~ Today is the First Sunday of Advent, the time of preparation for Christmas and the coming of the Christ child. But the season of Advent in the church year looks in two directions. It not only looks back on the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, but … Read More
~ Mark 13:1-8 ~ A few years ago, Linda and I met some friends in Cologne, Germany, at the plaza of the huge medieval cathedral. On this warm summer Sunday, we watched street performers and an incredible sidewalk chalk rendition of a De Vinci painting. Behind us, the weather-darkened façade … Read More
~ Deuteronomy 6:4-9/Leviticus 19:18/Mark 12:28-34 ~ In a hostile and violent world, talk about love often seems out of place, naive, simplistic. When there are hard things to contend with love often gets short shrift. When difficult issues demand our attention, we tend to respond out of duty and obligation rather … Read More