Oil in Our Lamps

The oil of the lampstand and the olive trees symbolize God’s life-giving, light-bearing Spirit.

Thursday • 12/21/2023 •

Thursday of the Third Week of Advent, Year Two 

This morning’s Scriptures are: Psalm 50; Zechariah 4:1–14; Revelation 4:9–5:5; Matthew 25:1–13 

This morning’s Canticles are: following the OT reading, Canticle 8 (“The Song of Moses,” Exodus 15, BCP, p. 85); following the Epistle reading, Canticle 19 (“The Song of the Redeemed,” Revelation 15:3–4, BCP, p. 94) 

A text version of this podcast can be found here

A Fourth Vision of Hope

Through that branch, Yahweh promises to “remove the guilt of this land in a single day”

Wednesday •12/20/2023 •
Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent 

This morning’s Scriptures are: Psalm 119:49–72; Zechariah 3:1–10; Revelation 4:1–8; Matthew 24:45–51 

This morning’s Canticles are: following the OT reading, Canticle 11 (“The Third Song of Isaiah,” Isaiah 60:1-3,11a,14c,18-19, BCP, p. 87); following the Epistle reading, Canticle 16 (“The Song of Zechariah,” Luke 1:68-79, BCP, p. 92) 

A text version of this podcast can be found here

“Most Freaking Awesome!”

The early church coined a phrase for this: phrikodestatēs, or, in the vernacular, “most freakin’ awesome!”  

Tuesday • 12/19/2023 •
Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent, Year Two  

This morning’s Scriptures are: Psalm 45; Zechariah 2:1–13; Revelation 3:14–22; Matthew 24:12–44 

This morning’s Canticles are: following the OT reading, Canticle 13 (“A Song of Praise,” BCP, p. 90); following the Epistle reading, Canticle 18 (“A Song to the Lamb,” Revelation 4:11; 5:9–10, 13, BCP, p. 93)  

A text version of this podcast can be found here

Words of Comfort, Visions of Hope

Abram and Melchizedek are interlaced in order to demonstrate God’s grace.

Monday • 12/18/2023 •

Monday of the Third Week of Advent, Year Two  

This morning’s Scriptures are: Psalm 41; Psalm 52; Zechariah 1:7–17; Revelation 3:7–13; Matthew 24:15–31 

This morning’s Canticles are: following the OT reading, Canticle 9 (“The First Song of Isaiah,” Isaiah 12:2–6, BCP, p. 86); following the Epistle reading, Canticle 19 (“The Song of the Redeemed,” Revelation 15:3–4, BCP, p. 94) 

A text version of this podcast can be found here

Spiritual Soulmates

Jude and Peter are spiritual soulmates, almost identical twins in the faith.

Friday • 12/8/2023 •
Friday of the First Week of Advent  

This morning’s Scriptures are: Psalm 16; Psalm 17; Amos 5:1–17; Jude 1–25 (includes Saturday); Matthew 22:1–14 

I plan to treat Matthew 22:1–14 in a DDD this coming January.  

This morning’s Canticles are: following the OT reading, Canticle 10 (“The Second Song of Isaiah,” Isaiah 55:6–11; BCP, p. 86); following the Epistle reading, Canticle 18 (“A Song to the Lamb,” Revelation 4:11; 5:9–10, 13, BCP, p. 93) 

A text version of this podcast can be found here

Preparing To Feel “At Home” in the New Heavens and New Earth

…believers have kept a vigilant eye on the distant horizon.

Thursday • 12/7/2023 •
Thursday of the First Week of Advent 

This morning’s Scriptures are: Psalm 18; Amos 4:6–13; 2 Peter 3:11–18; Matthew 21:33–46 

This morning’s Canticles are: following the OT reading, Canticle 8 (“The Song of Moses,” Exodus 15, BCP, p. 85); following the Epistle reading, Canticle 19 (“The Song of the Redeemed,” Revelation 15:3–4, BCP, p. 94) 

A text version of this podcast can be found here

God Has a Heart

Eternity keeps time differently than we do. 

Wednesday • 12/6/2023 •
Wednesday of the First Week of Advent 

This morning’s Scriptures are: Psalm 119:1–24; Amos 3:12–4:5; 2 Peter 3:1–10; Matthew 21:23–32 

The Daily Lectionary reading of 2 Peter for this year (Year One), does not include chapter 2. For observations from 2 Peter 2 from Year Two, see https://tinyurl.com/8cxcddz4 for 2 Peter 2:1–10a, from 12/16/2020; https://tinyurl.com/5ukhhuzk for 2 Peter 2:10b–16, from 12/17/2020; and https://tinyurl.com/375377bm for 2 Peter 2:17–22, from 12/18/2020.  

This morning’s Canticles are: following the OT reading, Canticle 11 (“The Third Song of Isaiah,” Isaiah 60:1-3,11a,14c,18-19, BCP, p. 87); following the Epistle reading, Canticle 16 (“The Song of Zechariah,” Luke 1:68-79, BCP, p. 92) 

A text version of this podcast can be found here

Advent Reminds Us that Light Broke In

Advent reminds us that we can choose wisely.  

Tuesday • 12/5/2023 •
Tuesday of the First Week of Advent  

This morning’s Scriptures are: Psalm 5; Psalm 6; Amos 3:1–11; 2 Peter 1:12–21; Matthew 21:12–22 

For observations on 2 Peter 1:12–21 from 12/15/2020, see https://tinyurl.com/4rvk9yxh 

This morning’s Canticles are: following the OT reading, Canticle 13 (“A Song of Praise,” BCP, p. 90); following the Epistle reading, Canticle 18 (“A Song to the Lamb,” Revelation 4:11; 5:9–10, 13, BCP, p. 93)  

A text version of this podcast can be found here

A Faith as Precious as Peter's

Who knew a Galilean fisherman could be so elegant?

Monday • 12/4/2023 •

Monday of the First Week of Advent, Year Two  

This morning’s Scriptures are: Psalm 1; Psalm 2; Psalm 3; Amos 2:6–16; 2 Peter 1:1–11; Matthew 21:1–11 

This morning’s Canticles are: following the OT reading, Canticle 9 (“The First Song of Isaiah,” Isaiah 12:2–6, BCP, p. 86); following the Epistle reading, Canticle 19 (“The Song of the Redeemed,” Revelation 15:3–4, BCP, p. 94) 

A text version of this podcast can be found here

United with Christ

Our baptism plunges us symbolically into a death-by-drowning.

Friday • 12/1/2023 •
Friday of the Twenty-sixth Week After Pentecost (Proper 29) 

This morning’s Scriptures are: Psalm 140; Psalm 142; Isaiah 24:14–23; 1 Peter 3:13–4:6; Matthew 20:17–28 

This morning’s Canticles are: following the OT reading, Canticle 10 (“The Second Song of Isaiah,” Isaiah 55:6–11; BCP, p. 86); following the Epistle reading, Canticle 18 (“A Song to the Lamb,” Revelation 4:11; 5:9–10, 13, BCP, p. 93) 

A text version of this podcast can be found here

Live as Free People

“Nobody can tell me what to do!” is a slogan of our time.

Thursday • 11/30/2023 •
Thursday of the Twenty-sixth Week After Pentecost (Proper 29) 

This morning’s Scriptures are: Psalm 131; Psalm 132; Psalm 133; Zephaniah 3:1–13; 1 Peter 2:11–25; Matthew 20:1–16 

On 1 Peter 2:11–25, see also https://tinyurl.com/2htusat8, from 4/23/2020 

On Matthew 20:1–16, see also https://tinyurl.com/2dmdzrzh, from 6/24/2020 

This morning’s Canticles are: following the OT reading, Canticle 8 (“The Song of Moses,” Exodus 15, BCP, p. 85); following the Epistle reading, Canticle 19 (“The Song of the Redeemed,” Revelation 15:3–4, BCP, p. 94) 

A text version of this podcast can be found here

No Discards

The anchor of Bob’s soul was Jesus Christ

Wednesday • 11/29/2023 •
Wednesday of the Twenty-sixth Week After Pentecost (Proper 29) 

This morning’s Scriptures are: Psalm 119:145–176; Obadiah 15–21; 1 Peter 2:1–10; Matthew 19:23–30 

This morning’s Canticles are: following the OT reading, Canticle 11 (“The Third Song of Isaiah,” Isaiah 60:1-3,11a,14c,18-19, BCP, p. 87); following the Epistle reading, Canticle 16 (“The Song of Zechariah,” Luke 1:68-79, BCP, p. 92) 

A text version of this podcast can be found here

Hard Thinking

The way I (wrongly) eliminate those temptations is to consume them!

Tuesday • 11/28/2023 •
Tuesday of the Twenty-sixth Week After Pentecost (Proper 29) 

This morning’s Scriptures are: Psalm 121; Psalm 122; Psalm 123; Nahum 1:1–13; 1 Peter 1:13–25; Matthew 19:13–22 

This morning’s Canticles are: following the OT reading, Canticle 13 (“A Song of Praise,” BCP, p. 90); following the Epistle reading, Canticle 18 (“A Song to the Lamb,” Revelation 4:11; 5:9–10, 13, BCP, p. 93)  

A text version of this podcast can be found here

Chosen and Destined

A penultimate 7th chord carries exquisite tones of poignant memory and eager expectation.

Monday • 11/27/2023 •

Monday of the Twenty-sixth Week After Pentecost (Proper 29) 

This morning’s Scriptures are: Psalm 106; Joel 3:1–2,9–17; 1 Peter 1:1–12; Matthew 19:1–12 

This morning’s Canticles are: following the OT reading, Canticle 9 (“The First Song of Isaiah,” Isaiah 12:2–6, BCP, p. 86); following the Epistle reading, Canticle 19 (“The Song of the Redeemed,” Revelation 15:3–4, BCP, p. 94) 

A text version of this podcast can be found here

Christ in Our Midst Now

The one whom we will one day see seated as “the Alpha and the Omega” is already among us whenever we gather.

Friday • 11/24/2023 •

Friday of the Twenty-fifth Week After Pentecost (Proper 28) 

This morning’s Scriptures are: Psalm 102; 1 Maccabees 4:36–59; Revelation 22:6–13; Matthew 18:10-20 

This morning’s Canticles are: following the OT reading, Canticle 10 (“The Second Song of Isaiah,” Isaiah 55:6–11; BCP, p. 86); following the Epistle reading, Canticle 18 (“A Song to the Lamb,” Revelation 4:11; 5:9–10, 13, BCP, p. 93) 

A text version of this podcast can be found here