In Matthew 1 20 the Gospel author cites a prophecy from Isaiah 7 14 concerning a 8220 virgin 8221 Gk parthenos who would give birth to a child Matthew seems to be citing the Septuagint LXX a 3rd century B C translation of the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek which also has parthenos Why

This Sunday s readings invite us into an area of considerable discussion--not to say dispute--in classrooms pulpits pews chanceries and other such places How is Scripture to be interpreted most fruitfully What methods and questions are most suitable Do we need to consider the 8th century c

8220 Rejoice in the Lord always Again I say rejoice 8221 Phil 4 4 Reading or hearing these words of St Paul always make me recall the simple musical round that was popular a few decades ago composed by whom when nbsp It almost automatically brings a smile to my face and makes me want

A classic American text John Graves s Goodbye to a River celebrates its fiftieth anniversary this year This non-fiction work chronicles Graves s three-week trip down the Brazos River in Texas and along the journey Graves reflects on nature his own life and local history with remarkably cr

The Gospel readings for the Second and Third Sundays of Advent always focus on John the Baptist Since we are again in Lectionary Year A the two selections are from Matthew 3 1-12 and 11 2-11 respectively See my Nov 27 post for an overview of the whole Season of Advent Given that John the

As the passages from Isaiah 11 1-10 and Matthew 3 1-12 illustrate we await the coming of the peaceable Kingdom the fulfillment of the promises of God the establishment of the Kingdom that shall not end And we await it in the context of history otherwise known as our ordinary lives Christianity