Reminder: traditional Lutheran congregations begin the season of Pre-Lent this year on January 31, Septuagesima. That means Transfiguration falls this year on January 24. Here are the seasonal customs for this time, from the wonderful liturgical resource Lex Orandi: The Season & Customs of Pre-Lent The three Sundays before Ash Wednesday are called Septuagesima, Sexagesima and […]

The Gospel reading is the historic one for the First Sunday after Epiphany: Luke 2.41-52. In today’s Gospel, Mary and Joseph take Jesus to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover. When the feast is over, Joseph and Mary begin the journey home, traveling with a large group of their relatives and friends. They imagine that Jesus […]

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit When the serpent opened his mouth in the Garden of Eden, death rushed out of his mouth. Our first parents heard death’s siren sound and bowed their knees. When God opened His mouth in the Garden of Eden, life […]

The following observations are drawn from Beale & Carson, Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2007). 1. The phrase in 18:9 “to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt” echoes the language of Ezekiel 33:13, in which the prophet criticizes his […]

Most times I’ve heard the words of the Pharisee in the lection for Trinity 11 rendered, “I thank you that I am not like other men.” That’s good as far as it goes but it doesn’t go far enough.  The text actually reads, “I thank you that I am not like the rest of men.” […]