advent quote of the day (4 Dec 2018)
Not everyone can wait: neither the sated nor the satisfied nor those without respect can wait. The only ones who can wait are people who carry restlessness around with them and people who look up with reverence to the greatest in the world. Thus Advent can be celebrated only by those whose souls give them no peace, who know that they are . . .
lection reflection (4 Dec 2018)
reading the bible daily with the church
Isaiah 1.21-31
Here we read another passage foretelling and threatening judgment against faithless and unrighteous Israel. But we must not read it as only a warning against sin--it is also a promise of forgiveness and restoration for the penitent and humble sinner. Buried in the middle of the passage is the Lord's purpose, in it . . .
Posted in: reflections
advent quote of the day (3 Dec 2018)
Celebrating Advent means being able to wait. Waiting is an art that our impatient age has forgotten. It wants to break open the ripe fruit when it has hardly finished planting the shoot. But all too often the greedy eyes are only deceived; the fruit that seemed so precious is still green on the inside, and disrespectful hands . . .
lection reflection (3 Dec 2018)
reading the bible daily with the church
Isaiah 1.10-20
This passage is one of my favorite, and also one of the most terrifying, passages in all of Isaiah. It is a favorite of mine because it calls us back to the simple good works that ought to be the natural overflow of every Christian's life: "Remove your evil deeds from my sight. Stop doing evil. Learn to do . . .
Posted in: reflections
advent quote of the day (2 Dec 2018)
Note: Part of our family Advent tradition is reading through a special Advent devotional. This year, we are reading through one of our favorites, "God Is In The Manger," by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. This devotional draws on Bonhoeffer's many letters and other writings during his time in prison during World War II. Each week draws on . . .
new (church year), new bible reading habits
This Sunday marks the first Sunday in Advent and the start of the new church year! While many people are already thinking about what resolutions they want to make (and subsequently break) at the beginning of 2019 in just over a month, let me encourage the start of the church year (i.e. this Sunday, 2 December) to be the time when you . . .
Posted in: reflectionstheology
lection reflection (30 Nov 2018)
reading the bible daily with the church
Today is the feast day of St. Andrew, so we're taking a break from our regular readings. Andrew was one of Jesus' first disciples and one of those who responded to the call of John the Baptist ("Behold, the lamb of God!") by following Jesus. According to Catholic Online:
Per Christian tradition, Andrew went on . . .
Posted in: reflections
