Category: Theological reflection
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Acting on Faith
The Second Sunday in Lent—March 1, 2026 Genesis 12:1-4a Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 John 3:1-17 Psalm 121Note: Scripture quoted in this blog is from the NRSV (New Revised Standard Version) except the Psalms, which are taken from the 1979 BCP (Book of Common Prayer) Psalter. Today’s readings point us back to…
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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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What might we expect?
The Last Sunday after the Epiphany—February 15, 2026 Exodus 24:12-182 Peter 1:16-21Matthew 17:1-9Psalm 2or Psalm 99 The Sunday before Lent begins, the Church invites us on a curious excursion, and in the image above by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo, we see Christ leading three disciples on this same journey. The Transfiguration of…
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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 Micah 6:1-8 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 Matthew 5:1-12 Psalm 15 “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…
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On the Road by the Sea
The Third Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A—January 25, 2026 Isaiah 9:1-4 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 Matthew 4:12-23 Psalm 27:1, 5-13 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…
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This is not the Lamb you think you seek
The Second Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A—January 17, 2026 Isaiah 49:1-7 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 John 1:29-42 Psalm 40:1-12 Today’s Gospel begins in the second day of a three-day sequence in the ministry of John the Baptist: Day 1: In conversation with some Pharisees, John dispenses with the popular suggestions…
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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: Isaiah 60:1-6 Ephesians 3:1-12 Matthew 2:1-12 Psalm 72:1-7,10-14 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…
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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: Jeremiah 31:7-14 Ephesians 1:3-6,15-19a Matthew 2:13-15,19-23 or Luke 2:41-52 or Matthew 2:1-12 Psalm 84 or 84:1-8 Since these are the same readings assigned to all three years of the lectionary cycle, I will use the first…
