First Reading

Commentary on Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7

Context means everything. If one reads Genesis 2–3 against the [...]

Commentary on Exodus 24:12-18

Exodus 24:12–18 has shaped the traditions of transfiguration that we find in the Synoptic Gospels. [...]

Commentary on Isaiah 9:1-4

Epiphany is a season that celebrates God’s manifestation in the world through the person of [...]

Commentary on Isaiah 49:1-7

One week after the Baptism of Our Lord, the lectionary texts from the Old Testament [...]

Commentary on Isaiah 42:1-9

“New things” are afoot. Israel’s penalty paid twofold, her exile at an end, the prophet [...]

Commentary on Isaiah 60:1-6

Bleak midwinter seems a fitting stage for this lectionary text that likely dates to the [...]

Commentary on Isaiah 63:7-9

The Sunday after Christmas is typically a “low Sunday.” The energy and anticipation of Advent [...]

Commentary on Isaiah 7:10-16

The difficulty of today’s text is perhaps also its genius: God is with us-and the [...]

Commentary on Isaiah 35:1-10

This is one of those texts for which many of the hearers will know not [...]

Commentary on Isaiah 11:1-10

It’s a “dog eat dog” world, we say: “Nature, red in tooth and claw.” It’s [...]