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The fact of human difference may no longer surprise us.1 What may surprise us in this passage is that the author stops to thank God for the foresight and grace to plan this messy human (...)

In the popular imagination, Advent is often depicted as the slow liturgical crescendo leading up to Christmas day. Each day of the advent calendar presents waiting children with something sweet and delightful. In designing worship (...)

Christmas may be one of the most difficult days on which to preach during the entire liturgical year. It is not that the texts are themselves complicated; it is that everyone has heard the Lukan (...)

Hebrew Bible scholar Renita Weems’ work on Mary inspired this writing, and offers refreshing insights for deeper reflection. To a girl named Mary an angel came.1 Greetings favored one, the Lord is with you. This (...)

The Beatitudes in Matthew’s Gospel occur within the literary context of inauguration of the new community. Jesus has just announced that the kingdom of heaven has come near (Matthew 4:17) and invited people to repent. (...)

When many of us were growing up, the assumed truth about the United States—as it is still for some—was that we were the greatest nation on earth. And perhaps in those days we were, if (...)

Isaiah 25:1-9 testifies to God’s wonderful transformation. It emerges from the so-called Isaiah Apocalypse (Isaiah 24-27). The presence of eschatological language and a reference to the consumption of death/resurrection give rise to the notion of (...)

This key text of the “Davidic Covenant,” is similar to an airport or a train station insofar as one can go all kinds of places from here.1 For example, this chapter gives the reason why (...)

After a first, poetic account in Genesis 1, Genesis 2-3 offers a complementary narrative account of the beginnings of creation.1 Together these three chapters present creation through a bifocal lens that affirms both the profound, (...)

An overview of the Narrative Lectionary Year 3, fall.1 Promises, promises Some preachers and worship leaders who follow the Narrative Lectionary (NL) have found it useful to divide the year into smaller units. The following (...)