“Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.” You might […]
Good Morning. Welcome to Holy Cross’ video streamed March 15 service. If you are not a parishioner and are wondering what this video feed is about, all Episcopal churches in the Washington DC area are closed for two weeks because of the corona virus. So, we are streaming this service for our parishioners. But if […]
When my sister Lynda was 15, the nun who was her homeroom teacher at the Catholic high school, went around the room and asked each girl what she was giving up for Lent. As her classmates answered, my sister became more and more irritated. Most said they were giving up candy, 90% at least. My […]
The scriptures are full of wisdom and advice from the Jewish community. I was thinking of examples of modern-day advice givers, and Dear Abby, and Ask Ann Landers came to mind. Did you know that the two women behind these syndicated columns are twins and are also Jewish? According to the Jewish Women’s Archive, “Both […]
God is achieving the purpose of the law by overturning it, demanding even more of God’s people and giving them the help they need. Imagine yourself a Hebrew in 1st Century Palestine listening to Jesus begin a Sermon on Mount Eremos. You and your family and neighbors are agitated. That’s an understatement if ever there […]
Lather, Rinse, Repeat. Virtually every shampoo bottle that has ever existed contains these three directions. It is simple, clear and states exactly what you are supposed to do. And, for best results, this process is meant to be repeated. Humans, we are programmed to follow patterns, we learn through repetition. If only being Christian were […]
Prophecies are interesting, and I want to talk about prophecy and reality. Some 700 years before Jesus, Isaiah wrote: “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.” Today Matthew tells us “… a voice […]
“Ahead of them went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him […]
Earlier this evening, I read the lyrics to The Little Drummer Boy to the children. We usually sing the song almost like a dirge—“Come they told me parumpa papum. A newborn king to see, parumpa papum.” I was in my car a few weeks ago and the song came on the radio. The words “Come […]
In today’s Gospel we have an overview of what was happening before Jesus was born. Mary and Joseph were set to be married, but it comes to light that Mary is with child. In that time there was an absolute three-step process to getting married: the family agrees to a union, there is a public […]