Penelope BridgesFirst Sunday in Lent We read about the temptations of Jesus every year at this time, hearing from each of the first three Gospels in turn. As we read Luke’s account of the three temptations and Jesus’ rebuttal of each, it’s such a familiar text that we skim over it; it seems like it’s … READ MORE…
Penelope Bridges Today we get Luke’s version of the Beatitudes, and they shine a pretty harsh light on the ascendant values of our current culture. Luke’s beatitudes are different from Matthew’s more familiar list. Matthew qualifies his criteria: poor IN SPIRIT, hunger and thirst FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Luke doesn’t let us off the hook with a … READ MORE…
Penelope Bridges “The Lord whom you seek shall suddenly come to his temple.” (Malachi 3) The prophet Malachi prepares the ground for our Gospel today, in which St Luke takes us back to the great Temple in Jerusalem, the heart of his story of Jesus. Luke reminds us that it was customary under Jewish law … READ MORE…
Rev. Cn. Richard R. Hogue Jr.Cathedral Day, 2025/01/26 “See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” I love this phrase, because it is deeply uncomfortable for us as Christians to contemplate and forces us to shed some of our assumptions. … READ MORE…
Second Sunday after EpiphanyPenelope Bridges The season after Epiphany is a season of revelation: that’s what an Epiphany is, a revelation, in this case the revelation to the world of Jesus as the Messiah. Sunday by Sunday we are learning who Jesus is by the public acts he does. In today’s Gospel St John introduces … READ MORE…
Second Sunday after Christmas, Penelope Bridges We are experiencing a bit of a time warp today, as we celebrate the last day of the Christmas season, look forward to Epiphany and the visit of the wise men tomorrow, and acknowledge that the world around us has moved on. Have you seen the Valentine’s Day merchandise … READ MORE…
December 29, 2024, 10:30 Choral Eucharist, Rev. Richard Hogue Jr. Merry fifth day of Christmas! Have you seen five gold rings lying around? If so, please report this to an usher so they may place these goods in the lost-and-found. This is the third time in a week these opening lines of John’s gospel … READ MORE…
Christmas Eve, December 24, 2024, Penelope Bridges Alleluia, unto us a child is born. Come, let us adore him. Alleluia. If ever there was a night made for poetry and song, tonight is the night. We revel in the familiar carols, the immortal texts, the magic and mystery of Christmas. And then we hear the … READ MORE…
Penelope BridgesLast Sunday of Advent Our King and Savior now draws near. Come let us adore him. Today’s Collect calls on us to prepare our hearts to be a mansion for Jesus. How do you do that? Have you found a moment in all the busyness of the season to rest quietly in the presence … READ MORE…
Fifth Sunday of AdventPenelope Bridges Some of the most beautiful language in the Bible comes from the prophets. If you are going to preach a tough message, it helps to wrap it up in poetry. Baruch paints a picture of the happy ending for God’s people, and in the Canticle we hear the words of … READ MORE…