Monthly Archives: December 2024

John: Prophet and Herald

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The gospel for the 3rd Sunday of Advent in Year C continues the Advent theme of John the Baptist as the herald of the promised good news. In last Sunday’s gospel (Luke 3:1-6), Luke has already connected the ministry and actions of John to the proclamation of the “good news” by the prophet Isaiah:

“ 4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. 5 Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth,   6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’” (Luke 3:4-6)

Our reading finds John in the wilderness, baptizing people as he proclaims that his was a “baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Luke 3:3). All of this was part of last week’s gospel for the 2nd Sunday of Advent. Yet, there are several verses that fall between the Advent gospels. Continue reading →

A History: The Immaculate Conception

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The Immaculate Conception of the Venerable One...It’s important to understand what the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception is and what it is not. Some people think the term refers to Christ’s conception in Mary’s womb without the intervention of a human father; but that is the Virgin Birth. Others think the Immaculate Conception means Mary was conceived “by the power of the Holy Spirit,” in the way Jesus was, but that, too, is incorrect. The Immaculate Conception means that Mary, whose conception was brought about the normal way, was conceived without original sin or its stain—that’s what “immaculate” means: without stain. The essence of original sin consists in the deprivation of sanctifying grace, and its stain is a corrupt nature. Mary was preserved from these defects by God’s grace; from the first instant of her existence she was in the state of sanctifying grace and was free from the corrupt nature original sin brings. Continue reading →

A map for Advent

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Again the voice cries out: “Prepare the way of the Lord” – as it did last year; as it will again. What have you prepared? What will you remember about this Advent? 

Did you know I used to live in Loudoun County back in the 1980s? I owned a home in the hamlet of Paeonian Springs. After growing up in Florida and always living near the ocean, suddenly I was inland and living on the first ridge of the Blue Ridge Mountains. After years of competitive swimming, I was now living in a county that, at that time, did not have a public swimming pool. I needed a new sport.

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Learning, Unlearning, Forgiving

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The author Ian Toll’s trilogy of the Navy/Marine Pacific campaigns during World War II was a wonderful read. What lets Toll’s trilogy stand apart from those historians who wrote before him was his access to the personal war diaries of women and men on both sides of the conflict in the Pacific. One of the journals cited at various points along the timeline was from a young Japanese woman. Continue reading →

For whom the Word came

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The opening of our 2nd Advent gospel passage is a list of whos-who for the time: emperors, governors, kings, and even the high priest of the Jerusalem Temple: In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas.

But to none of those did the Word of God come. Continue reading →

Transformed

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The enemies are on the horizon. Judah is in a time of darkness or uncertainty, waiting for a light to show there is a better future coming. Today’s first reading is from Isaiah 29:17-24. Beginning with the first verse the reading lets us know that something new and transforming is afoot. 

To the north, Lebanon is known for its extensive forests and cedar trees – even today the nation’s flag shows forth the mighty cedar.  So, what is with the mention of forest lands becoming orchards? In order to have orchards promised, the forest has to be cut down. Isaiah has used the imagery of such clearing before as a symbol of humiliation (2:13; 10:34; 37:24). This is the way of Isaiah telling Judah of the coming reversal in the positions of the noble/privileges and the common person.

Continue reading →

The Call of the Prophet

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4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. 5 Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”

Luke casts the call of John the Baptist in the form of an Old Testament prophetic call with reference to the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 40:3-5). Continue reading →

The City

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In today’s reading from Isaiah 26:1-6. It is important to recall that in yesterday’s selection the prophet began with the image of a banquet: “On this mountain, the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines.” (Is 25:6). Isaiah chapters 24 and 25 focus on the Lord’s victory and the feast which follows. The following chapters (26 and 27) reflect in a somewhat more solemn vein upon the meaning of this victory for Judah.

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Mission of the Baptist: Repentance

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“He went throughout (the) whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Luke 3:3)

The basic meaning of the verb baptizo is “to wash,” which is how it is translated in Luke 11:38 (re: ritual washing before meals). The word often also carries, in context, ritual or purifying aspects to the washing. This image is used by Luke in Acts 22:16: “Get up, and have yourself baptized (baptisai) and your sins washed away (apolouo), calling on his name.” When one surveys the reports in the Gospels concerning John’s baptism (Mark 1:2–6), the origin and significance of which was debated (Matt 21:25; Mark 11:30; Luke 20:4), one notices: Continue reading →

The Banquet

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In today’s reading from Isaiah 25:6-10, the prophet begins with the image of a banquet: “On this mountain, the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines.” This is not a night out at the Ponderosa; it is more than mean. It is the banquet symbolizing God’s desire to gather His people – all people – into communion with Him. It is a vision of abundance, joy, and unity. In a world often marked by scarcity and division, this image reassures us of God’s boundless generosity and the inclusivity of His Kingdom. All are invited—there is no one excluded from His loving embrace.

Continue reading →