December 17/Third Friday of Advent The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. ~ Matt. 1.1 Who are all these people? Upwards of fifty ancestors of Jesus are mentioned in Matthew’s extensive genealogy, and while a few of them are “boldface” biblical names whom we readily recognize — Abraham and Isaac, David and Solomon, Joseph the…
Category: Keeping Advent
Keeping Advent 19: Free To Be Me
December 16/Third Thursday of Advent All the people who heard this, including the tax collectors, acknowledged the justice of God, because they had been baptized with John’s baptism. But refusing to be baptized by him, the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God’s purpose for themselves. ~ Luke 7.29-30 During my mid-twenties, when I was in something of a spiritual wilderness, I…
Keeping Advent 18: Drum Majors
December 15/Third Wednesday of Advent At that time, John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the LORD to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” ~ Luke 7.18 When I was seven or eight, after receiving a twirling baton for Christmas from an aunt, I briefly entertained the dream…
Keeping Advent 17: Actions > Words
December 14/Third Tuesday of Advent What do you think? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.” He answered, “I will not,” but afterwards he changed his mind and went. The man went to the second and said the same. He said in reply, “Yes, sir,” but did not go. Which…
Keeping Advent 16: Just Saying
December 13/Third Monday of Advent They discussed this among themselves. . . And they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” ~ Matthew 21.27 The disingenuousness of our political discourse never ceases to amaze me. Even as they strike arch poses and take extreme positions, talking heads and congressional leaders profess that they are just “trying to get to…
Keeping Advent 15: In the Thick of It
December 12/Third Sunday of Advent The LORD, your God, is in your midst; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing as on a day of festival. ~ Zephaniah 3.17 There have been times along the way when my connection to God simply dropped. Many years ago, for example,…
Keeping Advent 14: Vineyard Vines
December 11/Second Saturday of Advent Once again, O LORD of hosts, look down from heaven, and see;Take care of this vine, and protect what your right hand has planted. ~ Psalm 80.15-16 Each spring I enthusiastically launch my annual tomato experiment, trying different breeds and planting strategies to see what will generate the most positive return. Trouble is, as veteran readers…
Keeping Advent 13: Eliminate the Negative
December 10/Second Friday of Advent Jesus said to the crowd: “To what shall I compare this generation? It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance, we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said, ‘He…
Keeping Advent 12: Blessed Are the Peacemakers
December 9/Second Thursday of Advent “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force.” ~ Matt 11.12 COVID-19 is not the only pandemic that has burrowed into our society and shows no signs of leaving. We are plagued, these days, by social division, profound political discord, and…
Keeping Advent 11: Seeking and Hiding
December 8/Second Wednesday of AdventSolemnity of the Immaculate Conception The Lord God called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” He replied, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.” ~ Gen 3.9-10 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it…