Matthew 24:36-44 Today is the First Sunday in Advent, and we join the disciples of Jesus in every time and place asking a most important question. When? In today’s reading from Matthew, the question has to do with when the Kingdom of God will finally come. When will the world finally be made right? When will the unjust power of both Rome and the Temple be broken and the people set free? When, Lord? In our day, we’re asking the same question. In the face of all the violence and upheaval in the world, we ask the question. When, Lord? When will violence give way to peace? [READ MORE]

  John 11:38-44 Advent is a season of Glory! “Hark! The herald angels sing, ‘Glory to the newborn King!’”  “Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plain; and the mountains in reply, echo forth their joyous strains: Gloria-in-excelsis Deo…!” Which means, “Glory… to God in the highest!” And from our first reading this morning: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; and we beheld his glory…!” We have just stepped into a season of close encounters of the most wonderful kind. Today, we enter the season of Advent, and [READ MORE]