First Reading

Luke 21:28
Commentary on Jeremiah 33:14-16

God’s word can find us anywhere — even in prison, [...]

Malachi 3:1
Commentary on Malachi 3:1-4

Malachi 3:1 introduces a figure whom God calls “my messenger.” His appellative makes a curious [...]

Zephaniah 3:20
Commentary on Zephaniah 3:14-20

Rejoice! Here comes a happy prophet. We usually do not [...]

The Annunciation
Commentary on Micah 5:2-5a

Continuing the themes of Advent, Micah’s prophecy of deliverance comes with an adult dose of [...]

Lighthouse shining against deep blue sky
Commentary on Isaiah 9:2-7

In 1863, Prussian military analysts described war as defined by the presence of uncertainty, writing, [...]

Luke 2:51
Commentary on 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26

It is likely that this text shows up on the [...]

The Nativity (2017)
Commentary on Isaiah 62:6-12

So many choices! For Christmas Day in any of the years of the lectionary cycle, [...]

Matthew 2:10
Commentary on Isaiah 60:1-6

We often call it the “bridge.” We look at the gap, or chasm, between the [...]

Luke 3:22
Commentary on Isaiah 43:1-7

If we think of the prophets as thundering proclaimers of collective sin, which they often [...]

John 2:7
Commentary on Isaiah 62:1-5

After the wonder of Christmas with the birth of the Savior, the hope of the [...]