Month: November 2025

“But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father…. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour” [Matthew 24:36, 44]. The First Sunday of Advent always catches us off guard. Many of us expect Bethlehem, shepherds, angels announcing good news. Instead, the Lectionary (Year A) hands us Matthew 24:36-44—Jesus speaking not about his first coming but his second. No manger here, no gentle Mary cradling an infant. Just stark apocalyptic warning: the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour. Keep awake. Be ready. It’s jarring, especially when…

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise” [Luke 23:42–43, a portion of the Gospel lesson appointed for this Sunday, The Reign of Christ, RCL, Year C]. I deserve this. Let’s be clear about that from the start. What I did—I did it— earned me these nails, this wood, this slow drowning in open air. There were four of us condemned. Me, him on my left, Barabbas, and the One between us now. But Barabbas walks free today. The crowd chose him over Jesus. Shouted his name until Pilate relented. I knew…

When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, He said, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.” (Luke 21:5–6; Gospel reading Luke 21:5–19, RCL Year C) You stand there admiring me. Beautiful stone, you say. Gifts dedicated to God. Look at the craftsmanship. Look at the permanence. I’ve been here a long time. Long enough to know that permanence is what you call a thing until it falls. I was here when the widow came— remember her?— dropping two coins in…

”O that my words were written down! O that they were inscribed in a book!O that with an iron pen and with lead they were engraved on a rock forever!”– Job 19:23-24, a portion of the Alternate OT reading appointed for this upcoming Sunday, the Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost The Longing for Record/Witness Job’s cry cuts through the centuries with startling immediacy. As most of us recall, by chapter 19, Job has been stripped of everything. Not just his possessions, his children, his health—but also his identity. His good name is destroyed. His ties to family and friends have dissolved. His body is “dis-integrating,” being taken apart, reduced to bones…