Part 3/5 of a set of reflections written for Ware Episcopal Church on the daily lectionary during Advent 3.  Isaiah 9:18-10:4  18 Wickedness burned like fire,    devouring thorn and thistle.It kindled the thickets of the forest;    they swirled in rising smoke.19 The land was scorched by the rage of the Lord of heavenly forces;    the people were like fuel for the fire.Not one person…

Continue reading ➞ Digging and Building | Reflections from Advent 3 (part 3/5)

Part 2/5 of a set of reflections written for Ware Episcopal Church on the daily lectionary during Advent 3.  Isaiah 9:8-17 8 The Lord sent a word against Jacob;    it fell upon Israel;9     the people all knew it—    Ephraim and the one who rules in Samaria.But with a proud and arrogant heart they said,10     “Bricks have fallen,        but let’s rebuild with stones.    Sycamores were…

Continue reading ➞ Breaking Points | Reflections from Advent 3 (part 2/5)

Part 1/5 of a set of reflections written for Ware Episcopal Church on the daily lectionary during Advent 3.  Isaiah 9:1-7  9Nonetheless, those who were in distress won’t be exhausted. At an earlier time, God cursed the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but later he glorified the way of the sea, the…

Continue reading ➞ On Endings | Reflections from Advent 3 (part 1/5)

A friend of mine writes a blog titled “Sermons I Wish I’d Heard”. She reflects on what preachers often say about a particular set of lectionary readings, and wonders if that’s really what she would need to hear, and then writes her own sermon on the text. Today’s sermon, if you will, is a sermon…

Continue reading ➞ Your redemption is drawing near (Sermon)