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Jeremiah 1:4-10 Psalm 71: 1-17 1 Corinthians 14:12b-20 Luke 4:21-32 One of the hallmarks of evangelical Christianity is its emphasis on the individual. God may have loved the whole world, but you, as an individual, must make a personal decision to follow Christ; you, as an individual, will be judged in the end for your …

This morning, I started writing my thoughts on 18 Pentecost with the words, “One of the stated purposes of the Lectionary Muse.” When I tried then to find the post in which those purposes were stated so that I could link to them, I realized that I have never actually stated the purpose of the …

Isaiah 50:4-9 Psalm 116: 1-8 James 2:1-5, 14-18 Mark 8:27-38 The period after Pentecost is usually given over to lessons about Christian living; sometimes it’s called “Ordinary Time,” that part of the year when we’re not in a specially celebratory or penitential mood. And, properly, it is here that we hear the hardest lessons of …

So, the lectionary based on the Book of Common Prayer features a three-year cycle.  Each year is labelled A, B, and C.  There’s some formula for figuring out what the year is; I’m sure that there’s someone out there who has discovered that it’s based on some Druidic astrological incantation that will send us all to …

Psalm 84; Jeremiah 31:7-14; Ephesians 1:3-6,15-19a; Matthew 2:1-12 “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.” Last month I went with Wade to the Bowling Green planetarium to see a presentation on the Christmas Star. It was …

Psalm 147; Isaiah 61:10— 62:3; Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7; John 1:1-18 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. The waiting and preparation are over. Look no more for the Lord has come. The OT readings …

Psalm 24; Isaiah 7:10-17; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25 Behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his …

Psalm 146:4-9 Isaiah 35:1-10; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11 Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it until it receives the early and the late rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord …

Isaiah 11:1-10; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. The Old Testament reading and the Psalm once again describe a future time in which life will be better than it is now. …

Psalm 122 Isaiah 2:1-5; Romans 13:8-14; Matthew 24:37-44 It is interesting that we, living 2004 years after the birth of Christ, should call the season before Christmas “Advent.” Generally, an advent is the coming into being of some thing. The 1980′s saw the advent of the personal computer, the 90′s the advent of the internet. …