Friday, March 6, 2026
Light from Isaiah 1: The Bad News and the Good News
Passages from the beginning to the end of the book of the prophet Isaiah are prescribed for us in the lectionary all through Great Lent. We introduce Isaiah and probe four matching themes in chapters 1-7, seeing their connection with Paul’s letters in particular, where he deals with the human problem and God’s remedies for it.
Friday, February 20, 2026
Light from the Old Testament Upon the Nativity 8: “That the Scriptures Might be Fulfilled”
This week we complete our reading of the Nativity stories by adding Matthew’s account (Matt 1:1-2:18), and seeing its important connections to Genesis 35:19-20, Jeremiah 31:15-16, Isaiah 7:14, Hosea 11:1, and Micah 5:2. Matthew deliberately quotes and alludes to the Old Testament to show how Jesus recapitulates the story of humankind and of Israel, putting us right with God.
Friday, February 6, 2026
Light from the Old Testament Upon the Nativity 7: The Growth of God’s Son
This week, just following the Meeting of the Lord in the Temple, we read Luke 2:21-52, with the help of Isaiah 42-52, Hebrews 5, and several Church Fathers. What does it mean to talk about the obedience and growth of God Incarnate? How do these stories of Jesus’ childhood encourage and instruct us?
Friday, January 23, 2026
Light from the Old Testament Upon the Nativity 6: When the Days were Fulfilled
We read Luke 2:1-20, seeing the birth of Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s work among the Jewish people, the story of David, and the human story as a whole. God the creator cares about our world, about time and space, and comes to dwell with us in this fragile context. We are especially helped by fathers who marvel concerning Luke’s attention to detail, and God’s great compassion.
Friday, January 9, 2026
Light from the Old Testament Upon the Nativity 5: Rejoice, O Barren Woman!
Today we look at Luke 1:57-80, the story of John’s birth, circumcision, and the surrounding joy. We understand this deep passage in the light of Isaiah 54:1, Isaiah 9:2 and Psalm LXX 17/MT18:1-3.