“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness– on them light has shined.” Isaiah 9:2-4,6-7 What does Christmas mean to you? Certainly for Christians, Jesus is the reason for the season, right? The Word made flesh, as St. John would put it. Any child can tell you it’s Jesus’ birthday! For many people, the reasons tend to be
December 22nd, 2019
Fourth Sunday in Advent
This is the long awaited, always expected something we have lived for. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. How can one even imagine Advent without the prophet Isaiah? How is it that this man living a couple hundred years after King David, and 7 centuries before Christ could speak so remarkable about Christ? Prophets are sort of like radios, they have
December 15th, 2019
Gaudete Sunday
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. “Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord.” From the letter of St. James. This Third Sunday in Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday, because in the old Latin mass, the intro went like this: “Gaudete in Domino semper: iterum dico, gaudete” which translates to: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say,
December 9th, 2019
Advent 2 – Prepare the Way of the Lord
“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: `Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’” From the Gospel of St. Matthew. St. Matthew here quotes from the prophet Isaiah in Chapter 40. Verses 3 – 5 are these: A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and
December 1st, 2019
Advent 1 – The Armor of Light
Let us then lay aside the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light.” From St. Paul’s letter to the Romans. Today marks the first Sunday in Advent. The theme of the coming of the Day of the Lord, or the advent of the Lord to judge the living and the dead is a constant in our teaching of the Gospel. Jesus describes it in the context of
November 24th, 2019
Christ the King
This is the King of the Jews, from the Gospel of St. Luke Today is what is known as Christ the King Sunday. It is also the last Sunday of the Church year, as next week Advent begins. Today we celebrate the Kingship of our Lord Jesus, who ascended into heaven and is seated on the right hand of the Father, as we say in the Nicene Creed. We Americans
November 17th, 2019
Let the rivers clap their hands
Let the rivers clap their hands, * and let the hills ring out with joy before the LORD, when he comes to judge the earth. In righteousness shall he judge the world * and the peoples with equity. From Psalm 98. As we begin to wrap up the church year, the theme of our readings from Holy Scripture returns to the Last Day, or Judgement Day, as I have spoken
