121519 Advent 3 Healing and Holiness Isaiah 35:1-10; Matthew 11:2-11   During Advent we look at signs of God’s coming; like justice, joy, peace and healing. The 3rd  Sunday of Advent is Gaudete Sunday, or joy Sunday. Some years the texts also lead us to reflect on joy. But this year’s texts invite us to…

120819 Advent 2 A Isaiah 11:1-11; Matthew 3:1-12       Two images of tree roots. First from the prophet John the Baptist, who issues a warning to the roots of the tree of Jesse, or Israel. The religious leaders had come out to the desert to see what this crazy guy was up to. John…

120119 Advent 1 C Isaiah 2:1-5; Matthew 24:36-44       Are any of you like me in finding it harder to wake up on these cold winter mornings than on a bright summer day? I found it especially hard to get out of bed this weekend with the rain and cold that made Los Angeles…