February 23/Thursday after Ash Wednesday Blessed are those who follow not the counsel of the wicked, Nor walk in the way of sinners, nor sit in the company of the insolent; But they delight in the law of the LORD and meditate on his law day and night. ~ Ps 1.1-2 “Are we there yet?” Before the omnipresence of those…
Song 1: Mercy Me
February 22/Ash Wednesday Have mercy on me, God, according to your steadfast love;according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. ~ Ps 51.3 If there is any doubt that today we cross the threshold from Ordinary Time to the season of penitence, the opening verse of Psalm 51 from the Ash Wednesday liturgy puts it to rest. “Have mercy,”…
Songs for Lent: Daily Reflections on the Psalms
Ash Wednesday, which begins the penitential season of Lent, is on Wednesday, February 22. For the 10th year, I will be offering “Songs for Lent,” daily reflections on a psalm verse or verses from the daily lectionary, enhanced with images and music, a link to the readings, and a prayer. This year, the reflections will explore what the Psalms can…
Keeping Advent 28: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
December 24/Fourth Saturday of AdventChristmas Eve “You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way.” ~ Luke 1.76 We are on the cusp of Christmas. The last Advent calendar window has been opened; the four candles on the Advent wreath have been lit; all the verses…
Keeping Advent 26: The Mighty One
December 22/Fourth Thursday of Advent And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord. ~ Luke 1.46 For people of my generation, there are few funnier examples of a soul that proclaims its own greatness than Peter Sellers’ rendition of Inspector Jacques Clouseau in The Pink Panther, whose high self-regard is matched (if not exceeded) only by his…
Keeping Advent 25: Why Me?
December 21/Fourth Wednesday of Advent Elizabeth . . . said, “And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” ~ Luke 1.42 If there are any fashionable virtues these days — and sometimes it seems that the very concept of virtue is obsolete — we can be sure that humility is not among…
Keeping Advent 24: What to Wear
December 20/Fourth Tuesday of Advent Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD? or who may stand in his holy place?One whose hands are clean, whose heart is pure, who does not lift up his soul to what is empty. ~ Ps 24.3-4 People still tend to dress for church in my small and historic parish. Men don coats and…
Keeping Advent 23: The Center Will Hold
December 19/Fourth Monday of Advent “For the boy shall be consecrated to God from the womb,until the day of his death.’” ~ Judges 13.7 On you I depend from birth;from my mother’s womb you are my strength. ~ Psalm 71.6 A friend of mine, not a regular church-goer at the moment, recently remarked after a funeral that she was glad she…
Keeping Advent 22: Exit Strategies
December 18/Fourth Sunday of Advent When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. ~ Matt. 1.24 Joseph wanted out. His plans to marry a young village woman were upended when he learned of her unexpected – and inexplicable – pregnancy. Being a righteous man (obedient to Jewish…
Keeping Advent 21: The Royals
December 17/Third Friday of Advent The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar. . . Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth. David became the father of Solomon, whose…