Life Is Holy

The Feast of the Holy Innocents is a reminder of the church’s resolute embracing of life as holy.

Thursday • 12/28/2023 •
Feast of Holy Innocents, Year 2 

This morning’s Scriptures are: Psalm 2; Psalm 26; Isaiah 49:13–23; Matthew 18:1–14 

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

Make the Mystery of God’s Loving Nature Visible

John teaches us to love Jesus first.

Wednesday • 12/27/2023 •
Feast of St. John, Year Two  

This morning’s Scriptures are: Psalm 97; Psalm 98; Proverbs 8:22–30; John 13:20–35 

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

Above It All, Always, Is Jesus

Stephen teaches us that above it all, always, is Jesus

Tuesday • 12/26/2023

Feast of St. Stephen, Year Two  

This morning’s Scriptures are: Psalm 28; Psalm 30; 2 Chronicles 24:17–22; Acts 6–7 

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

A Divine Sweetness

Jesus has made us new by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on his church

Monday • 12/25/2023 (Christmas Day) 

This morning’s Scriptures are: Psalm 72; 2 Samuel 7:1–17; Titus 2:11–3:8a; Luke 1:39–56 

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

In Christ, Faith Comes

He delivered himself to a process by which he would become embryo, infant, toddler, child, adolescent, and adult.

Sunday • 12/24/2023 •
Christmas Eve, Year Two  

This morning’s Scriptures are: Psalm 45; Psalm 46; Baruch 4:36–5:9; Galatians 3:23–4:7; Matthew 1:18–25 

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

Armor of Light

Give us grace, Lord, to put on the armor of light.

Friday • 12/22/2023 •
Friday of the Third Week of Advent, Year Two  

This morning’s Scriptures are: Psalm 40; Psalm 54; Zechariah 7:8–8:17 (includes Saturday’s reading); Revelation 5:6–14; Matthew 25:14–30 

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

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