By the time Jesus turns twelve, Mary and Joseph have carved out life-as-usual routines and traditions for their household, including the annual Passover pilgrimage from Nazareth to Jerusalem and back again....

The story of Samuel begins one chapter before our reading. In the scriptures we first meet his father, Elkanah, and mother, Hannah, and learn that Hannah is barren. Year after year...

From Creation’s first breath, we are reminded through the poetry of the Psalms that every single part of life imagined, formed, and spoken into being by God is imbued with the...

Nestled against Mary’s heart, her arms still awkward with first-time mothering, this newborn squirms against the cloth that binds him. He whimpers a bit, to which his young mother responds with...

In our time, we have a keen awareness of lurking darkness as close as family secrets and as distant as tribal genocide across the globe. As we approach Christmas and read...

Elizabeth is surprised that the child within her leaps for joy at the sound of Mary’s voice. Elizabeth’s greeting in return surprises Mary. Elizabeth, “filled with the Holy Spirit,” confirms Gabriel’s...

Micah speaks of little Bethlehem suddenly becoming great. The greatness will come about not because Bethlehem suddenly grows, develops a great advertising campaign, or is discovered to be the center of...

Regulations for sacrifices and offerings fill the Old Testament. How can the author of Hebrews say, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired”? The Bible I am reading lists Psalm 40:6...

What does God want? As Christmas approaches, we can easily focus on what we want. Some of us may compile “Wish Lists” for others to purchase for us. Even when we...

Serving as a guest minister in a congregation one Sunday, I closed the service with the blessing from Numbers 6:24-26: “The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his...