Reflections for my sermon on the Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 22, 2024. My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. Amen. The Gospels tell us surprisingly little about Mary. (And in point of […]
Advent
18 posts
Reflections for my sermon on the Third Sunday of Advent, 2024. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.” When I was growing up, this time of year was the best time of the year. We were […]
My reflection and substance of the sermon preached for the Second Sunday of Advent 2024. When I was an undergrad, Cornell had very few courses on the New Testament, but I took all that I could find. Several were taught within the English department by Professor Bishop. He was an […]
Reflections for my sermon on the First Sunday of Advent, December 1, 2024. “There will be signs,” Jesus said. All around us there are signs, indications that the season has fully changed. The leaves have turned and fallen, the weather is very cold, and here in our sanctuary, in the church the […]
Third Sunday of Advent (December 17, 2023) Almost twenty years ago, in my first year as an honors college dean, we were having a dinner of our Advisory Board. During the drinks and hors d’oeuvres, I saw a board member that I had not yet met and went up and […]
Second Sunday of Advent (December 10, 2023) “Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation.” In the name of … We come to religion for answers. There may be […]
Advent 1 – New Life First Sunday of Advent (December 3, 2023) “Restore us, O God of hosts; show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.” (Ps. 80:7) In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost… This morning is the first Sunday of Advent. […]
“Put the apocalypse back into Advent” is a phrase that has been making the rounds of the internet for the last few years, a riff on the “kept Christ in Christmas,” no doubt. For many Christians it is a curious concept, what can the apocalypse possible have to do with […]
Third Sunday of Advent (December 15, 2019) – Audio A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; … it shall be for God’s people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray. Isa. 35:8 During my academic sabbatical, three years ago now, I was interim […]
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again […]