This is the hour, the place, and the time for pondering. What a wonderful word: “ponder.” It means something like “meditate.” But meditate sounds a bit too active. “Ponder” comes from the Latin word pondus, meaning “to consider, to weigh, to hold in balance.” “Mary continued to treasure all these things in her heart and […]
Matthew 1:18-25: The Holy-Spirited Conception of Jesus
December 22, 2013 by
Today, especially within the media and intelligentsia, many mock the Christian Faith. Sometimes, it’s subtle; sometimes, it’s not. You may find that they treat a Christian the way someone might treat a mentally challenged person who does something awkward. They smile, nod politely, and then quickly shuffle him off. At best, they tolerate us; even […]
Psalm 3: Arise, O LORD! Save me, my God!
December 18, 2013 by
People are more likely to pray when life is going badly than when life is going well. It shouldn’t be that way, but it is. The Old Testament book of Judges shows that exact pattern of a prayer life. According to Judges, most people then would chase after what they wanted in life, forgetting about […]
Matthew 11:2-15
December 15, 2013 by
John the Baptizer’s disciples knew about depression and darkness. They had heard their teacher point them to Jesus, proclaiming Him as the long-awaited Messiah. When they complained to John that Jesus was drawing larger crowds, John told them, “He must increase and I must decrease” (John 3:30). And when John confronted Herod and challenged him […]
Psalm 27: Wait for the Lord
December 12, 2013 by
King David was thinking about the future. And while the future couldn’t come soon enough for him, he still ended the 27th Psalm with these words: “Wait for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait for the LORD” (Psalm 27:14). Those words of waiting didn’t only challenge David. They also challenge us. After all, don’t […]
Romans 13:11-14: The Time when Time was Fulfilled
December 1, 2013 by
Before the people who became of age in the 1960s got the name “Baby Boomers,” some called them the “Now Generation.” Back then, that generation was young–but it was more than that. They also wanted to change the world! The Who sang “My Generation” and Bob Dylan crooned, “The times they are a changing.” The […]
Luke 17:11-19: Thanksgiving with the One Leper
November 27, 2013 by
How do you receive your gifts? Sometimes, we receive gifts with disappointment. It’s not what we wanted. It’s not what we needed. It’s not the right gift. It’s not big enough or good enough. So, what’s it like when it comes to receiving the gifts of God? Our Gospel reading for today shows us […]
Matthew 25:1-13: The Parable of the Ten Virgins
November 25, 2013 by
When Jesus tells a parable, pay attention! For if you don’t, you’ll miss the meaning in the details of everyday-life events that Jesus uses. So, in today’s parable from Matthew 25, who represents whom and what represents what? Well, let’s start with the easiest person to identify: The Bridegroom. He’s Jesus. That’s obvious if you […]
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18: For Those in Christ, Death is but a Sleep
November 19, 2013 by
We have a saying: “Ignorance is bliss.” When we say that, we don’t apply that expression to every piece of our life. But ignorance is bliss instead of knowing every thoughtless and unkind word spoken against you. Ignorance is bliss when it comes to a special surprise that others have planned for you. But ignorance […]
Matthew 9:18-26: Healing Salvation
November 10, 2013 by
“If I only touch his robe, then I’ll be healed.” So said the woman with a chronic, bleeding hemorrhage, which we heard about in today’s reading from St. Matthew’s Gospel. Now, if we were to read St. Mark’s Gospel, we would learn that this woman suffered under the care of many doctors who, not only […]
