Encountering Luke * (This text can be used for either Christmas Eve or the 1st Sunday after Christmas.) We are using the texts for the Nativity, rather than for the First Sunday… read more

Encountering Luke When you think about it, every baby is an intrusion. I well remember when my first child was born. I remember staring over into his crib with amazement that one… read more

Encountering Philippians Let us make a theme of all of today’s Advent lections. Into our dark, solitary world, God comes. A vast invasion, a rescue operation is taking place … read more

Encountering Isaiah Isaiah is the prophet of good news, at least in chapters 40-55. The vast, cruel Babylonian Empire is near collapse (539 BC). The poetry which is Isaiah… read more

Encountering John Our Gospel is the prologue to John’s Gospel, a most fitting Gospel for the nativity. John’s Gospel employs a host of metaphors for Jesus—he is … read more

Encountering Matthew Only Matthew depicts the nativity of Christ through the lens of Joseph, the man who was engaged to Mary. An angel, a heavenly messenger, comes to Joseph. The … read more