A sermon for Christmas Day, 2024 The Word became flesh and lived among us. Let’s begin with the flesh. Your flesh, my flesh. The flesh of everyone you have ever known, or will know. The flesh of billions you will never know, across time and space. All flesh. The flesh of the whole creation. Flesh…… Continue reading The Word becomes Flesh
Category: Christmas
The Joy of Advent Waiting
No one has ever accused me of (or complimented me on) being patient. I know it is a widely-admired virtue—it’s just not one of mine. For me, the majority of time, now just feels better than later. Advent, however, is different. Advent, however, is special. During the season of Advent, I don’t mind waiting at…… Continue reading The Joy of Advent Waiting
Unto You, a Savior is Born
Christmas is a labor of love, is it not? So much had to be done to get us to today—either by you, or by others: a tree was selected and cut, purchased and brought home, set up and decorated; lights were hung, decorations were placed; cards were written and mailed; food—mountains of food—was shopped for,…… Continue reading Unto You, a Savior is Born
The Holy Innocents, Wounded Knee, and Fear
Yesterday was the Festival of the Holy Innocents, the day the Church commemorates the murder of all the boys two years old and younger in and around Bethlehem, at Herod’s order, once he realized that the magi had deceived him and Jesus–infant threat to his power–had escaped. The children are memorialized as the first Christian…… Continue reading The Holy Innocents, Wounded Knee, and Fear
Hopkins & the Incarnation
I just finished A Heart Lost in Wonder, a short, accessible biography of Gerard Manley Hopkins, one of my two favorite poets. There’s not much new here, but the author, Catherine Randall, writes a very engaging story, and goes into enough theology to make the key points clear, without too much detail for the non-specialist.…… Continue reading Hopkins & the Incarnation
Making Room at Christmastime
I am squeezing in one more Advent reflection with just a few hours to go! I have been thinking about a passage from Dorothy Day, titled “Room for Christ.” It was the reflection in my Advent devotional from December 19th. She begins her reflection this way: “It is no use saying that we are born…… Continue reading Making Room at Christmastime
A Sign of Good News
This morning, when I got back from my run, John had the news on, and I walked into the room just in time to see a nurse in NYC receive one of the first Corona virus vaccines. And, I’m not going lie, I choked up a bit. There it was: undeniable and irrefutable–a tangible sign…… Continue reading A Sign of Good News
A Good Time to Wait
This year, more than usual, I have been looking forward to the season of Advent. I love Advent every year, mostly because of how much I love Christmas, and so I take great delight in the anticipation of the joy of the incarnation and the celebration of Emmanuel, God-with-us. Christmas is a season of love,…… Continue reading A Good Time to Wait
Targeting Cultural Sites for Destruction
Remember the Buddhas of Bamiyan? These were two 6th century enormous statues of the Buddha that were carved into giant niches in Central Afghanistan, in the Bamiyan valley. They became national news when they were destroyed by dynamite by the Taliban in 2001, and while there continue to be talks about possible rebuilding, currently…… Continue reading Targeting Cultural Sites for Destruction
The Incarnation & The Cosmos
I got to preach the Christmas Day service at the Seminary; I love preaching on John 1, and I love that service–it is always full of such joy. Here’s the sermon, with some science thrown in as well–I hope you like it. Last night, in congregations and homes all around the world, the creche was…… Continue reading The Incarnation & The Cosmos
Happy Lutheran 