In my faith tradition early January is when we talk about Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist in the Jordan River (See Matthew 3:13-17) and our own baptisms. In Romans chapter six Paul writes: “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead…
“And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.” (Luke 2:21) Jsus’ circumcision was probably the most important thing that Jesus did under the Old Testament Jewish ceremonial law. Many of his fellow Jews rejected him…
The Old Testament reading for Christmas Day includes the following verse from Isaiah: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’” (Isaiah 52:7) When it comes to things of beauty in God’s…
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel,” (Isaiah 7:14) One thing our church likes to do this time of year is to have an Advent and Christmas hymn sing. In place of our opening hymn we sing a…
The third Sunday in Advent focuses on joy in an otherwise subdued and penitential season. Isaiah 35:1–2 describes a joy that bursts forth dramatically: “The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; [2] it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory…
Snakes are not something I normally associate with Advent but maybe I should rethink that. Two of the most common Biblical texts read during the season of Advent mention snakes. First, there is Isaiah 11:8–9: “The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on…
Several things struck me about this portrait of St. Michael the archangel defeating the devil that I recently discovered. First, his sword. It is more like a lightsaber than a sword. Although the handle looks like a regular sword handle the blade looks like it is made of fire. This goes along with what Paul…
Luke 23:27–31 describes a part of Jesus’ journey on what has been called the Via Dolorosa: “And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. [28] But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and…
“For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, [24] and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ [25] In the same…
As we approach the end of another church year, the focus turns to Jesus’ return at the end of the world. In Luke, chapter 21, verses 5-32, Jesus urges us to do two things to prepare for his return: watch the signs that will precede the end and watch ourselves to be sure we are…
Mirror Neurons 