Author Archives: Dave

Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday Year A Readings: Isaiah 50:4-9 Psalm 31:9-16 Philippians 2:5-11 Matthew 27:11-54 A Moment of Kindness It was a long time ago,when I was young and in my prime.I was entering the city for Passover. … Continue reading →

Fifth Sunday in Lent Year A Readings: Ezekiel 37:1-14 Psalm 130 Romans 8:6-11 John 11:1-45 In the Valley of the Ghost Christians The hand of the Lord came upon me and led me on an uncertain mission to a valley … Continue reading →

New Poetry I have three new poems published on MyEdmondsNews, an online journal for the city of Edmonds. Click this to view. When you open this page, you might get a request for a donation. This will block your view. … Continue reading →

Fourth Sunday in Lent Year A Readings: 1 Samuel 16:1-13 Psalm 23 Ephesians 5:8-14 John 9:1-41 God Knows the Heart We judge our fellow humans by what we see. We cannot know for sure what’s in the heart. God ignores … Continue reading →

Third Sunday in Lent Year A Readings: Exodus 17:1-7 Psalm 95 Romans 5:1-11 John 4:5-42 Breaking Bigotry He broke a rule by talking to a woman.Women are not to be diminished!With the woman at the well, he shows us howto … Continue reading →

Second Sunday in Lent Year A Readings: Genesis 12:1-4 Psalm 121 Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 John 3:1-17 A Father’s Love A Father’s love does not depend on good behavior by his child. Bad behavior does not suspend a Father’s love for … Continue reading →

First Sunday in Lent Year A Readings: Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7 Psalm 32 Romans 5:12-19 Matthew 4:1-11 This is a Test The verbs to tempt and to test are not the same. God did not tempt Abraham to sacrifice his one … Continue reading →

Last Sunday after the Epiphany Year A Readings: Exodus 24:12-18 Psalm 2 2 Peter 1:16-21 Matthew 17:1-9 On Prophesy How do we know if a prophesy is actually true? Peter says, “No prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s … Continue reading →

Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany Year A Readings: Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Psalm 119:1-8 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 Matthew 5:21-37 [haiku] planting a dogwood sapling,four hands pat down the compost… commitment [tanka] we are on our knees in the garden; I am weeding, … Continue reading →

Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany Year A Readings: Isaiah 58:1-9 Psalm 112:1-9 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 Matthew 5:13-20 The Way What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love … Continue reading →

The Presentation of our Lord Year A Readings: Malachi 3:1-4 Psalm 84 Hebrews 2:14-18 Luke 2:22-40 What Kind of God? The gods consume nectar and ambrosia on Olympusand amuse themselves by looking down on usdispassionately. Cool detachment is a sardonic … Continue reading →

Third Sunday After the Epiphany Year A Readings: Isaiah 9:1-4 Psalm 27:1, 5-13 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 Matthew 4:12-23 Leaving Home Jesus set out from the pinched, provincial town of Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the lake,one of … Continue reading →

Second Sunday After the Epiphany Year A Readings: Isaiah 49:1-7 Psalm 40:1-12 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 John 1:29-42 Cædmon’s Vision In the Old English Style I ken a cross        cleaving cloudshigh in the heavens        of purple huethe mark of my liege         … Continue reading →

First Sunday After the Epiphany Year A Readings: Isaiah 42:1-9 Psalm 29 Acts 10:34-43 Matthew 3:13-17 All the Way to the Coastlands Isaiah’s camera lens is zooming out from a close-up shot showing the rubble and despair of occupied Israel … Continue reading →

The Epiphany Year A Readings: Isaiah 60:1-6 Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 Ephesians 3:1-12 Matthew 2:1-12 Herod the Great A popular belief was abroad in the kingdom of Judea. Scholars concluded that seventy-six generations had passed since the Creation, and that the … Continue reading →

Second Sunday After Christmas Year A Readings: Jeremiah 31:7-14 Psalm 84 Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-19 Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 Come Together Come together, come together people of faith from all the farthest parts of earth. Come together you who suffer and you … Continue reading →

First Sunday After Christmas Year A Readings: Isaiah 61:10–62:2 Psalm 147 Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7 John 1:1-18 Son of Man The son of man comes to earth. Like you and me, he draws a breath. His life is much like ours: … Continue reading →

Christmas Day Year A Readings: Isaiah 9:2-7 Psalm 96 Titus 2:11-14 Luke 2:1-14 Long Night’s Journey Into Day In former times, we toiled at night. We toiled in shadows from black to gray. But then, behold! The emerging light! In … Continue reading →

Fourth Sunday in Advent Year A Readings: Isaiah 7:10-16 Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18 Romans 1:1-17 Matthew 1:18-25 Passages Passagesfrom tarn to tide—a post-ambleto the old transformation, a preamble to the new. If I am only what I am becoming, I wonder … Continue reading →

Third Sunday in Advent Year A Readings: Isaiah 35:1-10 Psalm 146:4-9 James 5:7-10 Matthew 11:2-11 Our Responsibility The Lord created the heaven and earth.He created the seas, and all that is in them.Man had nothing to do with this. The … Continue reading →

Second Sunday in Advent Year A Readings: Isaiah 11:1-10 Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 Romans 15:4-13 Matthew 3:1-12 Bond of Unity The weak in faith and the strong in faithand the honest skeptic are bound as one. The Easter Christian and the … Continue reading →

First Sunday in Advent Year A Readings: Isaiah 2:1-5 Psalm 122 Romans 13:11-14 Matthew 24:36-44 Conversion of St. Augustine In a little while, I’ll make up my mindto turn away from a life of sin,but not right now. I have … Continue reading →