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The LORD has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all nations [Isaiah 52:10] These words from Isaiah [see Isaiah 52:7-10, the Old Testament reading for Christmas Day, RCL, Year C] originally fell on weary ears. Decades into exile, the people of Judah had heard it all before—promises of restoration, visions of return, declarations that God would act decisively on their behalf. Yet their once-mighty Jerusalem still lay in ruins, its walls crumbled, its temple destroyed. Some blamed themselves, seeing in their exile the fruits of their own rebellion. Others wondered if God had simply abandoned them. Most had probably stopped listening to prophets altogether. Yet here was Isaiah,…

But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days [Micah 5:2]. In the 8th century before Christ, as powerful Assyrian armies threatened the southern kingdom of Judah, people looked anxiously for signs of YHWH’s presence and deliverance. Many turned their eyes to Jerusalem, the great city with its magnificent temple, the obvious place to look for divine intervention. After all, wasn’t this where kings ruled and priests offered sacrifices? Wasn’t this where YHWH’s presence dwelt in the Holy of Holies? But…

The LORD has set aside your judgments, removed your enemy. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst. You need no longer fear evil. On that day shall it be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, O Zion, let not your hands fall slack. The LORD your God is in your midst, a rescuing warrior. He delights over you with glad song [Zephaniah 3:15-16, The Hebrew Bible, tr. by Robert Alter]. Some of you may recall Bette Midler’s 1990 very successful cover of the Nanci Griffith original, “From a Distance.” It reached number one on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and number two on the Billboard Hot…

See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like washers’ soap; … [Malachi 3:1-2]. In our front hallway hangs a family treasure—a quilt crafted by Jane’s great-grandmother, Bessie Walker, around 1895. Within its carefully preserved squares lie fragments of Jane’s family story: a scrap bearing the name “Mineola,” remembering Bessie’s daughter taken too…

“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…

Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that [‘YHWH] is one, and besides him there is no other’; and ‘to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength and to love one’s neighbor as oneself — this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.’ When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that no one dared to ask him any question [Mark 12:32-34]. Two weeks into my first Economics course at Wake Forest, I was hooked. I couldn’t…

Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way [Mark 10:49-52]. In this Sunday’s Gospel reading [the Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost, RCL, Year B], Jesus is making his final journey to Jerusalem. On the…