First Reading

photo of light in darkness
Commentary on Jeremiah 31:7-14

The joyful declaration that God is the giver of every [...]

Detail from Daniele Crespi's
Commentary on Isaiah 63:7-9

In Isaiah 63:1–6, the writer recounts the failures and shortcomings of God’s people. In all [...]

photo of a lighted arm coming out of darkness
Commentary on Isaiah 52:7-10

“Beauty” is a word in the English language that gets used a lot to talk [...]

photo of earth from space at night
Commentary on Isaiah 62:6-12

Someone once said that life’s storms force us into one of three positions when pondering [...]

blurry photo of people rushing
Commentary on Isaiah 2:1-5

Isaiah 2:1–5 welcomes congregations to Advent across the globe. As the first scriptural reading of [...]

black and white photo of a Christmas parade
Commentary on Isaiah 9:2-7

In 1943, Ruth Caye Jones, burdened by the grim headlines of mounting World War II [...]

Detail from Carlo Carlone's
Commentary on Isaiah 7:10-16

On this final Sunday in Advent, the lectionary includes one more passage from the book [...]

photo of a man behind bars with a dove flying outside
Commentary on Isaiah 35:1-10

The Old Testament reading for this third Sunday in Advent continues the book of Isaiah’s [...]

Detail from Alvise Vivarini's
Commentary on Isaiah 11:1-10

Last Sunday, the passage from Isaiah portrayed the unlikely image of hope: soldiers melting down [...]

Photo of The Sanctuary of Christ the King in Almada, Portugal.
Commentary on Jeremiah 23:1-6

“Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock …, I will bring them [...]