The third Sunday of Advent is associated with joy. The angel at Jesus’ birth told the shepherds that he was bringing them “good news of great joy which will come to all people.” The last night of Jesus’ life on earth, as he spoke to his disciples about abiding in… Continue reading
Micah 5:1-4a; Luke 1:39-55 The Second Sunday in Advent is known as Peace Sunday. It is a time for churches to consider the peace Christ brings to our world in the Christmas season. In the Nativity stories the angels speak of “peace on earth.” Mary sings in her Magnificat about… Continue reading
We usually think of Advent as a time preparing us for the birth of Jesus—for that coming of Jesus as a newborn babe some 2000 years ago. But traditionally within the church Advent has had a deeper and broader meaning than just Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. In fact, we could… Continue reading
I have always been fascinated by creches. My childhood home had its own creche which was part of our Christmas decorations. Among my earliest memories is reenacting the nativity story as I choreographed Joseph and Mary with the donkey; the Christ Child in the manger surrounded by sheep and a… Continue reading
(In a sermon on this blog I wrote about joy and how it differs from contentment, happiness, and pleasure. That sermon is entitled “John 15:1-11 Rooted in Joy.” I would ask the reader to read that sermon first to appreciate what follows below. In this article, I will look at… Continue reading
Many years ago, there were societies which celebrated twelve days of Christmas. Prior to Christmas, Advent was observed in solemn ways similar to the austerities of Lent and was a time for repentance and preparing oneself spiritually for the coming of the Christ Child. But on Christmas Day, all that… Continue reading
St. Francis was responsible for the first living creche. He wanted the peasants of his day to know the love of God in a very intimate and profound way. Francis reasoned that they could approach God more easily in a tiny baby than in the regal and overpowering images found… Continue reading
Are you ready for all the feelings of worthlessness to melt away in the glory of God’s love poured out for you? Are you ready to realize from the inside out and in the deepest recesses of your heart and soul that rather than being “nobody’s nothing,” you are a precious, unique child of God whose worth has been sealed forever by sacrificial love? Are you prepared to embrace the identity you already possess in the eyes and heart of God? And are you willing to recognize that such an identity is the birthright of each and every person in this world? If you are ready to know who you really are, then you are ready for Christmas. Continue reading
The third Sunday of Advent often focuses on joy. Laughter motivated by unadulterated joy can indeed be the hand of God on the shoulder of a troubled world. Such laughter is a gift from God, a gift that we need in a world of terrorism and violence, estrangement and bigotry, greed and lies. Continue reading
Our term “gospel” comes from the Anglo-Saxon words for “glad tidings.” The Greek term in the New Testament for gospel literally means the “good news” which comes to people announcing a significant and most happy event. Roman emperors used the term in their imperial propaganda to announce all the good… Continue reading
