Category: Church Year
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God, I’m thirsty
The Third Sunday in Lent, Year A—March 8, 2026 I hate Lent. …Stick with me, though. At least in the Episcopal Church, we do so much chest-beating—perhaps not literally, but if you pay attention to the words we’re praying, saying, and singing, you should see it. The season doubles down…
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Acting on Faith
The Second Sunday in Lent—March 1, 2026 Today’s readings point us back to Israel’s history, hopefully reminding us that Christianity descends from Israelite faith, but also requires a reinterpretation of that tradition for Gentile believers in Jesus. But these readings can remind us of a feature of that tradition we…
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When Jesus shows up
The First Sunday in Lent—February 22, 2026 Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7Romans 5:12-19Matthew 4:1-11Psalm 32 This post is a bit late. No, I haven’t given up this blog for Lent. The truth is, I spent my time this weekend prepping for and leading a 10-hour workshop through the seminary where I teach.…
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On Being a City on a Hill
The Fifth Sunday afther the Epiphany—February 8, 2026 Isaiah 58:1-9a, [9b-12]Psalm 112:1-9, (10)1 Corinthians 2:1-12, [13-16]Matthew 5:13-20 Although my field is theological aesthetics, I teach church history (technically, historical theology, which makes it not so far off from theology). We recently covered the Council of Nicaea where, at the behest…
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Simple. But not easy.
The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany—February 1, 2026 “Lord, who can dwell in your tabernacle?” the Psalmist (rhetorically) inquires. His answer is daunting: Whoever leads a blameless life and does what is right, who speaks the truth from his heart.There is no guile upon his tongue; he does no evil…
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On the Road by the Sea
The Third Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A—January 25, 2026 Today’s Gospel passage starts out dark: Jesus is just hearing that John the Baptist has been arrested. “He withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea,” reports Matthew, who works the plot for…
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This is not the Lamb you think you seek
The Second Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A—January 17, 2026 Today’s Gospel begins in the second day of a three-day sequence in the ministry of John the Baptist: It seems that the author of this Gospel is taking some pains to sideline the Baptist. He has John say several times,…
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The First Sunday after the Epiphany
The Baptism of ChristYear A—January 11, 2026Readings:Isaiah 42:1-9Acts 10:34-43Matthew 3:13-17Psalm 29 In the West, we call this feast the Baptism of Our Lord, or something similar. In the East, it is the Theophany—manifestation of God—because, for the first time in history, the Holy Trinity is revealed. God the Son is…
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Epiphany
Year A—January 6, 2026 Readings: The image above is a very small piece housed at the Met. It’s a mere 5.75 x 4.5 inches (14.6×11.4 cm), though the frame it’s in probably almost doubles the size. That small size seems appropriate: Like the magus shown on his knees adoring the…
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The Second Sunday after Christmas
Years A—January 4, 2026 Happy New Year! And Merry Christmas. The readings for this Sunday are: Since these are the same readings assigned to all three years of the lectionary cycle, I will use the first Gospel listed for today. (Additional note: I will cover the Feast of the Holy…
The Sound 