Last Sunday after Pentecost, 2025 This Sunday is the last one in Year C; after this (and after Thanksgiving) comes the first Sunday in Advent for Year A. It’s been fun (if challenging) to blog weekly from texts and themes in HARP; starting next week we’ll return to blogging twice a month. We hope you…
Luke’s Nativity Story. I call Luke 1–2 a prelude instead of a prologue because of how the Nativity drama is composed around three canticles: Mary’s “Magnificat” (1:46–55); Zechariah’s “Benedictus” (1:68–79); and Simeon’s “Nunc Dimittis” (2:29–32). The long tradition of singing carols during Advent and Christmas is rooted singularly in Luke’s narrative.Â
This is the second of a series of commentaries on Lukan Gospel readings that lie at the intersection of the Year C Revised Common Lectionary and texts I’ve explored in Healing Affluenza and Resisting Patriarchy: Luke’s Jesus and Sabbath Economics.
Friends: Today in this space I’m beginning a year-long series of comments on Lukan gospel Year C lections.  Context: Advent marks the beginning of the Year C Revised Common Lectionary’s journey through Luke for the Sunday Gospel reading. Tomorrow’s 2nd Sunday of Advent brings the first of the readings that lie at the intersection…
by Cherice Bock My kids anticipate Christmas like no other season. They spend the month or two ahead of time thinking about and discussing what they want for Christmas, making lists, and poring over the Lego catalogue that appears in the mailbox. They understand the waiting and anticipation part of this season, but perhaps not…