Advent Week 1

Psalm: Psalm 25:1-10

Old Testament: Jeremiah 33:14-16

Gospel: Luke 21:25-36

Epistle: 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving and in some way you were able to take a secular holiday and turn it into something a little more sacred. Ultimately, all our gratitude must flow to God as the creator and sustainer of all life. With Thanksgiving over, all of America now moves onto the “Holiday Season.” But I think we all know that in the retail world the holiday season has moved up to anything after Halloween. And so we have 2 full months of frenzied activity where everywhere we look there is a barrage of messages to buy, consume and find happiness in the things we have or in being able to buy a better car than our neighbors. It is in the midst of this culture, far removed from anything Christian, that the church celebrates Advent.

Ordinary Time Week 25

Psalm: Psalm 16

Old Testament: 1 Samuel 1:4-20

or 1 Samuel 2:1-10 or Daniel 12:1-3

Gospel: Mark 13:1-8

Epistle: Hebrews 10:11-14, 15-18, 19-25

We are approaching the end of normally time (finally), which there is really no way to miss since all of the stores and commercials are screaming that the “shopping season” is upon us. The commercialization of Christian holidays doesn’t seem to be something the church is willing to address in any meaningful way right now. We give lip service to keeping Christ in Christmas and make a big deal when a secular retail store fails to say Merry Christmas on their products, but we don’t seem to challenge the consumerism inherent even in these issues. For many Christian families, there is no difference between how they celebrate the holiday and how the rest of America celebrates. Advent is ignored in the hustle of the season, attending a church service on Christmas Eve/ Christmas Day is afterthought or doesn’t happen at all, the 12 days of Christmas are skipped for many reasons not least of which is because it has no place in the secular culture, and the giving of gifts fuels the Western societies greed and desire to consume and waste.

Ordinary Time Week 24

Psalm: Psalm 127 or Psalm 146

Old Testament: Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17

 or 1 Kings 17:8-16

Gospel: Mark 12:38-44

Epistle: Hebrews 9:24-28

This week I feel like we have to discuss the story of Ruth. The Lectionary covers the whole book in week 2, but last week we used the readings for All Saints’ Day so we didn’t read or discuss this particular section. Ruth is the great-grandmother of King David and I think that is the primary reason why this story is told and included in the Hebrew Bible. But we can also wonder what other issues the author was trying to explore in telling this story.

Ordinary Time Week 23/ All Saints Day

Psalm: Psalm 24

Old Testament: Isaiah 25:6-9

or Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9

Gospel: John 11:32-44

Epistle: Revelation 21:1-6a

Today is All Saints’ Day, the day after Halloween. This is why Halloween is also called All Hallows Eve. All Saints' Day is a day in the Church when we celebrate those in the Church who have died. There are different views and ways to celebrate this holiday and the corresponding All Souls’ Day, which is celebrated on November 2nd. In the Catholic Church, All Saints’ Day celebrates those who have been beatified by the church officially as Saints. All Souls’ Day is when all Christians who have died are celebrated. However, from a more Protestant perspective, where Saints are not emphasized and we believe in the sainthood of all believers, both days have become a celebration of all Christians who have passed away. We don’t want to sentimentalize those who have gone before us and we don’t have to go as far Catholics do in praying to the dead or prayers to the “Saints,” but much like we do in the USA to celebrate those who have died in military service on Memorial Day, it is appropriate and useful for us to remember, celebrate and learn from those who have walked before us in the Church.