Changed By God To Make A Difference For God

Epiphany means manifestation. Have you ever wondered what manifestation we celebrate on the Feast of the Epiphany? What's all the fuss about the wise men that brought gifts to baby Jesus? Why should we care? Check out what Fr. Feister has to say about these things (and more) and see what you think. Lectionary texts for the Feast of the Epiphany (transferred to this Sunday) are Isaiah 60.1-6; Psalm 72.1-7, 10-14; Ephesians 3.1-12; Matthew 2.1-12.

What is Christmas all about? How can we celebrate when we are hurting or have lost loved ones? The short answer is that the people walking in darkness have seen a great light. But what does that mean? Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about this and see what you think. Lectionary texts for tonight are Isaiah 9.2-7; The Song of God's Chosen One; Titus 2.11-14; Luke 2.1-20.

So what are you hoping for this Christmas? A new iPhone? Clothes? New wheels? Other gadgets? While these things are nice to have, how will they help you find your way when life smacks you in the face and you find yourself walking in a dark valley? Check out what Fr. Feister has to say about hope and joy and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are 2 Samuel 7.1-11,16; The Song of Mary; Romans 16.25-27; Luke 1.26-38.

In our epistle lesson, the apostle Paul commands us to rejoice and give thanks always. Really Paul? Really? What is the basis for this seemingly ludicrous command? But once we reorient our worldview to bring it back in line with reality, Paul's commands are not as ludicrous as they appear. Check out what Fr. Maney has to say and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Isaiah 61.1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; 1 Thessalonians 5.16-24; John 1.6-8, 19-28.

We are all called to be witnesses to the Good News of Jesus Christ and to live that Good News out in our daily lives. But how do we do that? In our own strength or by something (or someone) else? Check out what Fr. Bowser has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Isaiah 40.1-11; Psalm 85.1-2, 8-13; 2 Peter 3.8-15a; Mark 1.1-8.

The season of Advent is upon us, a time for us to reflect on our Lord's gracious coming to live in our midst in the birth of Jesus and to anticipate his final coming at the end of time to right all the world's wrongs. During this Advent season we have a choice. We can buy into the consumerism of our age (no pun intended) and play the Christmas game as our culture has chosen to play it or we can use these four weeks before Christmas to help us get our minds right about what it means to live in a good world badly corrupted by sin and evil. Which will you choose and why does it matter? Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about all this and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Isaiah 64.1-9; Psalm 80.1-7, 17-19; 1 Corinthians 1.3-9; Mark 13.24-37.

Have you ever had any concerns or anxiety about what will happen to you when the Lord returns to finally put to rights all that is wrong in his creation? After all, Scripture is full references about God's wrath and his promise to judge his good world and its peoples gone bad. So why wouldn't we have some anxieties about our eternal destiny? But in our epistle reading, the apostle Paul has some surprising answers for us and it makes all the difference in the world. Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about this and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Zephaniah 1.7, 12-18; Psalm 90; 1 Thessalonians 5.1-11; Matthew 25.14-30.

In our epistle lesson this morning, Paul talks about what will happen to the living and dead in Christ when he returns. Based on what he says about the living faithful being caught up in the clouds with Jesus so that we can meet him in the air and be with him forever, is Paul telling us our destiny is heaven? Not so fast, my friends! There's a lot more to this than meets the eye! Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about this and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Joshua 24.1-3a, 14-25; Psalm 78.1-7; 1 Thessalonians 4.13-18; Matthew 25.1-13.

Is there anything we can learn from John the Elder's surreal vision of the heavenly throne room that we read in our NT lesson today? There most certainly is and if we ignore texts like these we impoverish ourselves terribly. Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about this all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for All Saints Sunday are Revelation 7.9-17; Psalm 34.1-10, 22; 1 John 3.1-3; Matthew 5.1-12.

What kind of gospel do you have (if any)? Do you think and behave as one who really does have Good News? Or do you think and behave as one who grimly goes through life trying to live up to a standard that is basically out of your reach but which you try to achieve anyway because you are terrified of what might happen to you if you don’t? These are important questions to us, not only for our psychological well-being but also because each of us is called by our Lord to proclaim his gospel to the world, i.e., to the folks around us with whom we live and interact. Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about all this and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Deuteronomy 34.1-12; Psalm 90.1-6, 13-17; 1 Thessalonians 2.1-8; Matthew 22.34-46.