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The Final Work of Advent
“Now the birth of Jesus took place in this way….” (Matthew 1:18-25) Matthew’s description of how the birth happens does not mention anything that is on my to-do list. So maybe the real work, the final work of Advent, is to get out of the way and let the baby be born. Get out of the…
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Nativity Prayer of St. Bernard of Clairvaux
“Let your goodness Lord appear to us, that we, made in your image, may conform ourselves to it. In our own strength we cannot imitate your majesty, power, and wonder nor is it fitting for us to try. But your mercy reaches from the heavens through the clouds to the earth below. You have come to us as a…
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Scandals, Wombs, and Emmanuel – A Sermon on Matthew 1:18-25
The collect and readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent may be found here. The appointed gospel is Matthew 1:1-25. Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the…
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Mothers of God
“We are all meant to be mothers of God. What good is it to me if this eternal birth of the divine Son takes place unceasingly, but does not take place within myself? And, what good is it to me if Mary is full of grace if I am not also full of grace? What…
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How Big is the Church?
How big is the church? That is, how are we to understand, determine, recognize and, perhaps more importantly, remain within that sphere, described by Lossky, in which union with God takes place? In a world and a Church that is increasingly diverse and challenged by a pluralistic society the answer to this question has profound…
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Expectations, Prison, and Jailbreaks – A Sermon on Matthew 11:2-11
The collect and readings for The Third Sunday of Advent may be found here. The appointed gospel is Matthew 11:2-11. 2When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples 3and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?”…
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The Church – An Atmosphere or Container?
Tobias Stanislas Haller, who blogs at In A Godward Direction, offers an insightful post entitled One Means One. I’m getting a tad annoyed at people talking about “organic unity” when they mean “institutional unity.” When I say, in the words of the Nicene Creed every week, that I believe the church to be “one holy…
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Who Cares? A Sermon on Matthew 3:1-12, Advent 2A
The collect and readings for the Second Sunday of Advent may be found here. The appointed gospel is Matthew 3:1-12. In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,…
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Archbishop Williams’ Reflections on Advent
This Sunday begins a new liturgical year with the Season of Advent. Archbishop Rowan Williams offers his reflections on this holy season of waiting, expectation, and hope. More Advent videos.
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Interrupting the Silence 