Rejoice! There are prophets all around us proclaiming the Good News! Jamie Grace is one of them. As we journey through the third week of Advent, her song challenges us to think about how we can be prophetic voices in our own community. She sings about what this might look like: Key Lines: “So go […]
Music and the Gospel: “Do Life Big,” Jamie Grace; 3rd Sunday of Advent Read More »
Sunday Scripture Readings: Isaiah 40.1-5, 9-11; 2 Peter 3.8-14; Mark 1.1-8 “One more powerful than I will come after me.” Mark 1.7 Like the prophet Elijah, John the Baptist haunt the wilderness. Like Elijah, who discovered God speaking not in storms and lightning but in silence, the Baptist in the silence of his wilderness life
Gospel Reflection for December 7, 2014, 2nd Sunday of Advent Read More »
As we move into the second week of Advent and light a second purple candle on our Advent wreaths, it can be so easy to slip into the chaos of the Christmas season. This song offers a chance to set aside some time to contemplate the world around us. We can reflect on how we
Music and the Gospel: “Below My Feet,” Mumford & Sons; Second Sunday of Advent Read More »
Whether a friend moves away or the open field down the street becomes a housing development, we often don’t realize how special the friend or the open space was until we no longer have them. We grow so used to God’s wondrous creation surrounding us that we easily take it for granted. It is important
In a dream, an angel told Joseph, “Joseph, son of David, have no fear about taking Mary as your wife. It is by the Holy Spirit that she has conceived this child. She is to have a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew
Gospel Reflection for December 22, Fourth Sunday of Advent Read More »
In the gospel of December 15, John the Baptist sends messengers, asking Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come? Or, are we to wait for another?” It’s a question for us. What are we waiting for? I wait for every day with a little contemplation. I have a rooster candle stand on our
What Are We Waiting For? Homily by Sister Joan Mitchell, CSJ Read More »
In this week’s Gospel (Matthew 3:1-12), we read about John the Baptist preaching repentance in the desert and baptizing the throngs of people who came, acknowledging their sins. In case his readers and hearers miss the significance of this seemingly simply man, who dressed in camel’s hair and survived by eating locusts and wild honey,
Making Straight the Path Read More »
When John the Baptist heard in prison about the works Christ did, he sent a message by his disciples to ask, “Tell us, are you the one to come?” Matthew 11.2-3 In his ministry Jesus is not hacking dead branches off the family tree of Israel nor winnowing hypocrites from among repentant sinners as John
Gospel Reflection for December 15th: Third Sunday of Advent Read More »
John the Baptist speaks about Jesus, saying, “I baptize with water for the sake of reform, but the one who will follow me is more powerful than I. I am not even fit to carry his sandals. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire.” Matthew 3.11 Fierce and holy like the prophet
Gospel Reflection for December 8, 2013, Second Sunday of Advent Read More »
John the Baptist challenges the Pharisees and Sadducees to live lives that match the words they speak in this Sunday’s gospel. People in our world obsess with image. To live true to what we believe and who we really want to be is hard. The song “Red Hands” describes the challenge of being honest with
Current Music and the Gospel: December 8 SPIRIT Xtra Read More »