Month: November 2024

“The days are surely coming,” says the LORD, “when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land” [Jeremiah 33:14-15 (NRSV)]. In sanctuaries across the world this Sunday, a single candle will pierce the darkness. A voice will proclaim ancient words of hope, speaking of promises made and fulfilled. The familiar rhythm of Advent begins again, calling us to wait with expectation for the One who is to come. But for many, this first…

A Meditation for Christ the King Sunday As I watched in the night visions, I saw one like a human being coming with the clouds of heaven. And he came to the Ancient One and was presented before him [Daniel 7:13]. In these days following our recent Presidential election, we’re witnesses to a stark contrast in responses. Some folks are practically floating on air, convinced that the outcome signals national salvation. Others are “absolutely devastated,” as described by the editors of The Christian Century — that thoughtful, albeit thoroughly left-leaning voice of mainline Protestantism. I’d like to suggest—no, I feel compelled to argue—that both responses miss a fundamental point: that…

But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, … [Hebrews 10:12]. From our earliest days, we learn how the world works: if you clean your room, then you get your allowance. If you study hard, then you’ll make good grades. If you put in the extra hours at work, then you’ll earn that promotion. It’s how we teach our children, how we navigate our careers, how we build our relationships. This “if-then” thinking is woven so deeply into the fabric of our lives that we often barely notice it. It makes perfect sense. It’s orderly. It’s…

Foreword For nearly five years, I’ve offered weekly meditations of between 1,200 to 1,500 words on one or more of the lectionary readings. This week, however, as I studied the Old Testament reading appointed for this Sunday (1 Kings 17:8-16; the Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, RCL, Year B), I decided to attempt something different. First, here’s a summary of the reading: In the midst of a devastating drought, God tells the prophet Elijah something remarkable: “Go to Zarephath, for I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” This detail – that God had already spoken to the widow – is often overlooked in the familiar story that follows: At…