Christmas III – The Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God Numbers 6:22-27; Psalm 67; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21 Last year began with one war in the headlines and ends with two wars. The war in Ukraine, begun in February … Continue reading →

Christmas II – The Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14; Psalm 128; Colossians 3:12-21; Luke 2:22-40 The New York Times columnist, David Brooks, wonderfully relates how when reading a book at his dining … Continue reading →

The Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord Isaiah 9:1-6; Psalm 96; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14 She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Has there ever … Continue reading →

The Fourth Sunday of Advent 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Psalm 89; Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38 Do you know what “the talk” is? If you are not a black parent, I don’t expect you do. In his book, Between … Continue reading →

The Third Sunday of Advent Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11; Psalm [Luke 1:46-50, 53-54]; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28 The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me. The prophet is not anointed with oil … Continue reading →

The Second Sunday of Advent Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11; Psalm 85; 2 Peter 3:8-14; Mark 1:1-8 Comfort, give comfort to my people says your God. When was the last time you felt comforted? What was happening in your life that you … Continue reading →

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Genesis 3:9-15,20; Psalm 98; Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12; Luke 1:26-38 Eve, the mother of all the living. Sarah, who laughed at bearing a child in her old age became mother … Continue reading →

The First Sunday of Advent Isaiah 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7; Psalm 80; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark 13:33-37 Why do you let us wander, O God and harden our hearts? There is none who calls upon your name, who rouses themselves to … Continue reading →

The Thirty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17; Psalm 23; 1 Corinthians 15: 20-26, 28; Matthew 25:3-46 Watching the coronation of Charles III, it was clear to me that monarchy … Continue reading →

The Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Proverbs 32: 10-13, 19-20, 30-31; Psalm 128; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6; Matthew: 25:14-30 This third servant is not a bad person. Is he not a prudent and cautious investor? He is not about to take … Continue reading →

The Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Wisdom 6:12-16; Psalm 63; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:1-13 There was a dark period in my life of which I wasn’t even aware. However, friends and parish staff around me were. I was going … Continue reading →

The Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time Malachi 1:14b–2:2b, 8-10; Psalm 131; Thessalonians 2: 7-9, 13; Matthew 23:1-12 Saint Teresa of Avila, one of our great Christian mystics, asks us to consider the opening two words of the Lord’s Prayer: Our … Continue reading →

The Solemnity of All Saints Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14; Psalm 24; 1 John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12a Holiness. It is how we are to live our life in Christ Jesus. But do not confuse holiness with perfection. The women and men of … Continue reading →

The Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Exodus 22:20-26, Psalm 18; 1 Thessalonians 1:5c-10; Matthew 22:34-40 “You shall not molest or oppress an alien…” We don’t. We just build walls so they cannot enter or not allow their boats to moor … Continue reading →

The Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 45:1, 4-6; Psalm 96; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5b; Matthew 22:15-21 Have you ever been concerned, even frightened, to gather for prayer and worship in our church? I expect your answer is no. However, I … Continue reading →

The Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 25:6-10a; Psalm 23; Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20; Matthew 22:1-14 8 October 2023 – The New York Times headline: An Attack from Gaza and an Israeli Declaration of War, Now What? We have seen the … Continue reading →

The Feast of Our Lady of Walsingham The Episcopal Cathedral of All Saints [Choral Evensong] – 15 October 2023 Ezekiel 37:1-28; Romans 8:12-23 “Son of Man, take a stick, and write on it, For Judah: then take another stick, and … Continue reading →

The Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Ezekiel 18:25-28; Psalm 125; Philippians 2:1-11; Matthew 21:28-32 In the aftermath of Pope Benedict XVI’s forceful denunciation of gender theory in 2008, three openly gay citizens of Malta announced they were excommunicating themselves from … Continue reading →

The Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time Ezekiel 33:7-9; Psalm 95; Romans `13:8-10; Matthew 18:15-20 The lifeguard at the swimming pool. The crossing guard at the intersection where children board and leave the school bus. The police officer on foot patrol … Continue reading →

The Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time Jeremiah 20:7-9; Psalm 63; Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 16:21-27 Charles Blow, age 20, drives down a Louisiana back-road with a gun in the passenger seat. Destiny sings to him, calling him back to his childhood … Continue reading →