Last Sunday, as you know, President Obama took the oath of office. On Monday he delivered his second inaugural address. This Sunday we hear another inaugural address, but not from any politician. This one is from Jesus himself, in which for the first time he states his mission to the world: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed … [Read more...]
Saving the Best for Last
After choosing his disciples what do you think is the first thing Jesus does? They all go to a party! John writes that three days into their ministry these thirteen men attend a wedding banquet to which they had been invited. It must have been quite a party because the wine ran out! Jesus’ mother Mary sees this and says to him, “They have no wine.” It sounds like a “mom” thing to say! I can imagine that Mary has been saying things like this for all of Jesus’ adult life. She’s known all … [Read more...]
Baptized for Life
On June 21, 1959, I was baptized. It was one month to the day after I was born. In the Lutheran church, once we’re baptized, that’s it. I have not returned to the font to be re-baptized. But in today’s readings we find different kinds of baptism. Today is the second Sunday in the season of Epiphany, what we call the Baptism of our Lord. The Scriptures for this day show us that baptism is not simply a one-time deal but repeated again and again. We might even say that baptism is a way of … [Read more...]
Blessed from Outside
The Christmas season is now officially over. As of today, we begin a new season in the church year, the season of Epiphany. And yet, it’s interesting, isn’t it, that the story we just heard from Matthew’s gospel sounds like Christmas! It’s the story of the “Three Wise Men,” or, The Magi. These people had traveled a long distance. They looked different from the people of Israel. They dressed different. Their beliefs were different. I was browsing the Christmas card choices in local stores … [Read more...]