Day of Resurrection: Easter Sunday

Readings- Proverbs 8: 1-4,22-31; Psalm 8; Romans 5: 1-5; John 16: 12-15 In 1973 I entered Virginia Theological Seminary using a proposed prayerbook that would become the 1979 Book of Common Prayer.  Raised in the Evangelical and Reformed Church, now the United Church of Christ, I had much to learn.  At V.T.S. we had a…

Readings – Numbers 21: 4-9; Psalm 107: 1-3,17-22; Ephesians 2: 1-10; John 3: 14-21 Today’s reading from Numbers 21 is a challenge. The Egypt-fleeing tribes of Hebrews were thoroughly discouraged.  Aaron, their high priest, had died.  The kings of Edom and Arad had rejected Moses’ request for travel through their kingdoms.  And they were tired…

Readings – Malachi 3: 1-4; Canticle 16; Philippians 1: 3-11; Luke 3: 3-11 In the 6th c. B.C.E. the Babylonian Empire was crumbling.  The leadership, the scholars, the business community, the artisans of Israel were in exile.  These exilic years were when much of the Old Testament was compiled and composed.  These were the years…

Reading — Malachi 3:1-4; Psalm 84; Hebrews 2: 14-18; Luke 2: 22-40 From our Gospel reading this day there are two elements that demand our attention.                                                                                                                                                        First, Simeon said to Mary – …a sword will pierce your own soul too. Second, Luke wrote that …they returned to Galilee, to their own town…

Readings – Proverbs 31: 10-31; Psalm 1; James 3: 13-4: 3, 7-8a; Mark 9: 30-37 Sometimes it seems we are in a world full of anxiety.  Our television and screens are flooded with programs and political ads that build on our anxiety.  For example, attending a high school homecoming dance in Central Pennsylvania.  The boy…