Third Sunday of Advent (B): The True Meaning of Christmas

Santa Claus, sleigh bells, reindeer. Snow falling, icicles forming, Christmas music playing. Christmas lights, Christmas trees, Christmas presents. Shopping, planning, cooking, eating, visiting with friends and family. This is what Christmas is all about...isn't it? Somewhere in the midst of the hustle and bustle of all the festivities, the real meaning of Christmas is lost.

Second Sunday of Advent (B): God’s Redeeming Love

So often the Old Testament is perceived as portraying a wrathful God of vengeance; but in this Old Testament passage, we see the compassionate, loving nature of God. Comfort is spoken to those who suffered through the Babylonian exile. These Israelites saw the destruction of their homeland, Judah; their capital, Jerusalem; their sacred temple on Mt. Zion. They were exiled from their land to live among the enemy for nearly 50 years. The prophets described the exile as punishment for the rebellious, apostate house of Judah. They saw Babylon as the rod of God's anger against His people.

First Sunday of Advent (B): Confession Brings Healing

Have you ever had a conversation with someone only to realize how distant he or she is from God? It is a humbling and saddening experience. I wonder sometimes if that is how God sees us. "We are all like an unclean thing. All our righteousness is like filthy rags; and our iniquities, like the wind have taken us away" (v. 6). Truly, from God's perspective, we are all so far away from Him.

Proper 29 (A): A Pastor in Prayer

This paragraph of Scripture contains one of Paul's two prayers found in his letter to the Ephesians. The second prayer, Ephesians 3:14-21, is for the Christians at Ephesus to have strength. The first one, found here in our text, is for them to have wisdom.

Proper 28 (A): A Matter of Trust

In this passage, we find ourselves in the middle of a series of statements Jesus made about the absent, but imminently returning master. In Matthew 24:36-44, Jesus spoke of His return and said, "No one knows the day and hour, not even the angels of heaven" In verse 45, He said, "Be ready." In Matthew 24:45-51, Jesus spoke of how unwise it is for a servant to serve as though his master will not return and discover what he has done. The parable of the wise and foolish virgins (Matt. 25:1-13) points out the foolish virgins were not prepared for the coming of the bridegroom. In each of these stories, the master or the groom is absent, but will appear when least expected.

Proper 27 (A): Don’t Miss the Wedding

No matter the custom or culture, weddings are important and revered events. As a pastor, I always have been extra sensitive to the nature of a formal wedding. I want everything to be just right. I want everyone to be punctual, especially myself. A number of years ago, I arrived at the church to perform the wedding of a precious young couple. I was greeted by an angry father of the groom, wanting to know why I was so late. I told him I was not late, but early. However, the time of the wedding had been changed, and I was not informed. Thinking I was in my usual waiting area, the pianist started the wedding, but I was not there. Although I was not at fault, I still felt badly that I was late for the wedding.