2025

St. John Chrysostompreached this Christmas sermonin 386.It was preached at Antioch in Asia Minor–during the first year of his public ministry.Later, he became Bishop of Constantinople.It was his skillful preachingthat earned him the nickname “Chrysostom,”which means “Golden-Mouthed.” Behold a new and wondrous mystery. My ears resound to the Shepherd’s song,piping no soft melody,but chanting full […]

Today’s passageis not about Mary.We hear prophecy in Isaiahand we hear its fulfilment in Matthew.The young woman, the virgin,shall conceive and bear a son.They shall call or name himEmmanuel:God is with us.Pay attention to the rest of our music today.All of it,from the procession onwardis really helping us focuswhere today’s gospel text is.As usual, it’s

It’s hard to wait.It’s always been difficult for us,us whose lives are like the grass,to wait –especially to wait for the Lord.Throughout Scripturewe have stories of peoplewho got impatient.In frustrationMoses strikes a rock twiceinstead of speaking to itbecause he’s grown impatientwith God and the Israelites.Abraham doesn’t wait for Godand has a child with Hagar.Sarah laughs

The end is the beginning.As John is out in the wilderness,dressed, eating, and living as a wild manpeople flocking to him.Matthew tells us that the people of Jerusalemand all the people of Judeaare going out to him.John the Baptizer isn’t addressing thosewhom Paul describes to Timothyas having itchy ears.He’s not telling themwhat they want to