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Herod the Great was well-known in the ancient world for both his paranoia and his brutality. He had one of his wives and several of his sons murdered because he thought they were plotting against (...)

This lectionary reading introduces the season of Advent, when Christians await the birth of God’s messiah. In certain respects, the message is straightforward, since it quite obviously touches on the fulfillment of God’s promise to (...)

In the previous week’s Gospel, we heard the story of how John the Baptist comes to recognise who Jesus is as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (1:29). Now (...)

Luke 2:1–14, the Narrative Lectionary’s reading for Christmas Eve, presents the birth of a child to an unassuming couple in an unusual place. I suggested in the commentary for that text that Luke presents the (...)

The long career of environmental lawyer James Gustave Speth has taken him into governmental and intergovernmental leadership, academia, and many years of nonprofit environmental advocacy. His newest book, They Knew: The US Government’s Fifty-Year Role (...)

The book of Ruth is beloved by many, and preachers have a wonderful opportunity over the next two weeks to explore this little book of the Old Testament. Reappropriating a quote from Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer (...)

This poem opens with a string of commands: “Sing aloud with gladness!” “Raise loud shouts!” “Proclaim, praise, and say!” The tone is marked with the urgency of joy.  This should give us pause. The book (...)

Editor’s Note: Working Preacher published commentaries that correspond with the readings for Season of Creation 2021: Series B (The Word Series). A full listing of worship resources (including liturgies to accompany the readings) can be (...)

Did God’s spirit play a role in creation? As it is with so many questions we have for scripture, it depends on whom you ask. For many Christians around the world and throughout the millennia, (...)

If you are reading this column, chances are, you are already involved in earth care. Maybe you call your listeners’ attention during worship to the majesty of God’s creation, the natural world’s importance to us, (...)