When Jesus' parents asked him why he had stayed at the temple, he said, "Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” I would translate that to say, "Did you not know that I would be about my Father's business?"… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Christmas 1C – 29-Dec-24”
In our gospel lesson for today, Jesus stays at the temple while his parents start to go back home. When they figure out that he's not with someone else in their traveling group, they get very worried and rush back to find him.… Read the rest “Children’s Momen for Christmas 1C – 29-Dec-24”
Elizabeth says that her child, whom we know as John the Baptizer, jumped for joy in her belly when Mary came for a visit, knowing that what God had promised through the prophets was being fulfilled. There are times when God chooses amazing situations to bring us closer into the beloved community.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Advent 4C – 22-Dec-24”
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One of the parts of Mary's song of praise from our gospel reading for today tells of God's grace to the poor and outcast. In the Church, we're warned not to treat people differently based on their social or economic status.… Read the rest “Table Meditation (Gospel) for Advent 4C – 22-Dec-24”
Have you ever noticed how some people are treated differently because of the clothes they have ... or don't have? In the gospel story for today, Mary talks about how honored she is to be the one chosen to give birth to and raise the messiah.… Read the rest “Children’s Moment for Advent 4C – 22-Dec-24”
When people asked John what they should do, he said that they should "produce fruit worthy of repentance." He said to give to those who have little and to feed those who have no food. In our own time, we are called to do those same things in order to bring Christ into the world and to show others the ways of God.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Advent 3C – 15-Dec-24”
In today's gospel story, John the Baptizer is talking to a lot of people about how to prepare for the Lord's coming. Some of them ask him, "What should we do?"
He says, "Share what you have with people who don't have it."… Read the rest “Children’s Moment for Advent 3C – 16-Dec-24”
John warns the people that "the ax is lying at the root of the trees" and "the winnowing fork is in his hand".and even that there is an "unquenchable fire" waiting for all that is not good. It is the full measure of God's grace that we do not have to fear those things because of the gift of Christ that forgives us from sin.… Read the rest “Table Meditation (Gospel) for Advent 3C – 15-Dec-24”
Just as in John's time, there are people yearning to see God's presence in their lives, yearning to see goodness and wholeness and to be able to live their lives in peace.
The call to John, to make the way for God to come into the world is the same call we hear here in this time.… Read the rest “Offering Meditation for Advent 2C – 8-Dec-24”
John's call in the wilderness was to repent of your sin and to make the way of the Lord straight. There are a number of ways we can follow that call and one of them is right here and now.… Read the rest “Table Meditation (Gospel) for Advent 2C – 8-Dec-24”