Dear Friends,Beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 26, I will again be offering Songs for Lent, brief reflections on the psalm verse or verses in the daily lectionary. The reflections will arrive in your inbox every morning except for Sundays, which are feast days and not technically part of Lent. They will end on April 11, Holy Saturday. As per usual,…
Keeping Advent 24: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
December 24/Christmas 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 Our Advent preparations end with a poem of praise. Curiously, though, the praise is directed not to the Christ whose birth we celebrate tomorrow, but to Zechariah’s child, John the Baptist,…
Keeping Advent 23: What’s in a Name?
December 23/Fourth Monday of Advent He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. ~ Luke 1.63 Many cultures around the world have specific customs and expectations about the naming of children. A new baby is named after a parent or grandparent; she is christened with a saint’s name, he is called after a…
Keeping Advent 22: What to Wear
December 22/Fourth Sunday 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 In my small and historic parish church, people tend to dress up for Mass. Men don…
Keeping Advent 21: The Dark Night
December 21/Third Saturday of Advent Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged! The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; He will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love. ~ Zephaniah 3.16-17 On this day of the winter solstice, light is scant, and the dark night seems to be gaining the upper hand. Everywhere…
Keeping Advent 20: The Best-Laid Plans
December 20/Third Friday of Advent But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. ~ Luke 1.29 In many artists’ renderings of the Annunciation through the ages, Mary is depicted as serene, peaceful, and possessed of an otherworldly calm as she faces Gabriel. Yet Luke tells us she is greatly troubled,…
Keeping Advent 19: First Impressions
December 19/Third Thursday of Advent He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb. ~ Luke 1.15 Any mother who has experienced the happy athleticism of a baby in the womb – kicking, flipping, dancing, giving the occasional elbow to the ribs – and then watched that baby grow to adulthood also knows that each of…
Keeping Advent 18: Small Ball
December 18/Third Wednesday of Advent When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him. ~ Matt. 1.24 What is God asking of me? This is one of the central questions we may put forward in prayer, as we listen for the voice of God in our lives. But often, God’s plan is underway well before…
Keeping Advent 17: Ordinary People
December 17/Third Tuesday 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…
Keeping Advent 16: The Center Holds
December 16/Second Monday of Advent “By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?” ~ Matt 21.22 Since about fourth grade, when I first encountered the challenge of word problems, math has not exactly been my strong suit. A geometry exercise I loved, however, was using the compass to draw a perfect circle. As I…