Matthew 23:22-25 - 23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others. 24 You...

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. Luke 2:1 Sometimes I am struck with the matter-of-fact elements in the Bible. Some of the most important moments in God’s story with us happen when the humans involved are...

Mary said, “My soul proclaims your greatness, O God,     and my spirit rejoices in you, my Savior. For you have looked with favor upon your lowly servant.     Surely from now on, all generations will call me blessed.” Luke 1:46-48  I’ve been overwhelmed with the...

The wolf shall live with the lamb; the leopard shall lie down with the kid;the calf and the lion will feed together, and a little child shall lead them. Isaiah 11:6 Yesterday I worshipped with a church I rarely visit, Good Shepherd Taiwanese Presbyterian Church. I...

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen this glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. From this fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. John 1:14, 16 As I mentioned last week, every time I go into one of our...

I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers . . . Ephesians 1:16 For a long time, I’ve thought about a Thanksgiving column, and how would I be able to share the gratitude I have for the blessings of the Presbytery of San Gabriel? Should I...

“Because of the tender mercy of our God,the dawn from on high will break upon us,to shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,to guide our feet into the way of Peace.” Luke 1:78-79 This weekend has been a big one, for me at least. On Saturday we...

I am about to create new heavens   and a new earth;the former things shall not be remembered    or come to mind.                                Isaiah 65:17 This very familiar passage from Isaiah is in the lectionary for this coming Sunday, and it’s a good one for San...

When his time of service was ended, he returned to his home.            Luke 1:23 It’s now less than two months until I retire. I apologize to those who are probably tired of me talking about this; you’re probably saying to yourself, “retire already!” What with Advent...