Author: trob

First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them” (although the law required them to be made). Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. And it is by…

Rejoice in the Lord always; I will say it again, Rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God [Philippians 4:4-6]. Waiting can be quite difficult for many, if not most…

“By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” [Luke 1:78-79]. In Luke 1:68-79, the first of two Gospel readings appointed for this upcoming…

Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near …. Be on guard…

“What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him” [John 18:38]. This upcoming Sunday, many of our congregations will observe a special annual liturgical event: the Feast of Christ the King. The observance was initiated by Pope…

Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see…

And the women said to Naomi, “Blessed is the LORD, Who has not deprived you of a redeemer today, and let his name be proclaimed in Israel” [Ruth 4:14]. As I mentioned last week, as we journey toward the end of the church year, the Revised Common Lectionary provides us with two OT readings from…

But Ruth said, “…. Where you go, I will go; Where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die—there will I be buried. May the LORD do thus and so to me, and more as well, if even death parts me…

  Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage; get up, he is calling you.” So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus [Mark 10:49-50]. For years now, I’ve been captivated by the story of blind Bartimaeus. It’s the Gospel…

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all [Isaiah 53:6]. Barrels of ink have been spilled in efforts to provide a specific identity for the Suffering Servant described in Isaiah 53:4-12 [the OT reading appointed…