Readings: Isaiah 62: 1-5; 1 Corinthians 12: 4-11; John 2: 1-11 Preacher: Sr. Joan Sobala In the bleak winter months of the early 1950’s, before Lent began and there seemed no reason to celebrate, the Parish of St. Hyacinth in Lackawanna N.Y. held a mock wedding. My grandfather, Valentine, was the principal organizer. He rented a hall and then left all… read more →
Readings Isaiah 42: 1-4, 6-7; Acts 10: 34-38; Luke 3: 15-16, 21-22 Preacher: Sonja Livingston While thinking about the week’s readings, I tried to imagine John the Baptist living in our time. This wasn’t an easy task. Even more than his camel’s hair clothing, diet of locusts and wild honey, and full-throated insistence that God is near, I suspect John’s humility… read more →
Readings: Isaiah 60: 1-6; Ephesians 3: 2-3a, 5-6; Matthew 2: 1-12 Preacher: Susan K. Roll Have you ever set out to give one gift and found yourself giving something very different? I don’t just mean under the Christmas tree or stuffed in a stocking. It might be a gift of our time or presence that takes us, and perhaps the recipient,… read more →
Readings: Sirach 3: 2-6, 12-14; Colossians 3: 12-21; Luke 2: 41-52 Preacher: Nancy DeRycke There’s a fable about 2 folks walking around a market who spot a vegetable stand with a sign “God’s Vegetables.” They run over and say to God: “Finally, we’d like some perfect vegetables (beans, broccoli…).” God says: “Sorry, I only sell seeds.” Today’s readings say that in… read more →
Readings: Micah 5: 1-4a; Hebrews 10: 5-10; Luke 1: 39-45 Preacher: Gloria Ulterino I was there. At the home of the priest Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, that is. A dozen or so years ago now, on pilgrimage to Israel with some 30 other women. On this one particular day, we headed to the “hill country,” as it’s called, just outside… read more →
Readings: Zephaniah 3:14-18a; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:10-18 Preacher: Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler “Rejoice!” “And again, I say, rejoice!” writes Paul. “Sing aloud!” “Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!” says the prophet Zephaniah. Neither Paul, in prison, nor the oppressed and sinful Israelites in exile, would seem to have much to rejoice about. And these days, many people might… read more →
Readings: Baruch 5: 1-9; Philippians 1: 4-6, 8-11; Luke 3: 1-6 Preacher: Ruth Marchetti Many of us are struggling with hope right now. The world’s painful problems appear increasingly unresolvable and the always-imperfect vision of our country as a beacon of justice and refuge for the persecuted seems more distant than ever. Climate change, immigration, inflation, rent hikes and housing shortages,… read more →
Readings: Jeremiah 33: 14-16; Thessalonians 3:12–4:2; Luke 21: 25-28, 34-36 Preacher: Susan K. Roll Cayuga Lake is one of the two longest of the Finger Lakes, aptly named because of its very long narrow profile, running roughly from north to south and pointed on each end, cutting down through central New York State. At its southern end lies the city of… read more →
Readings: Daniel 7: 13-14; Revelations 1: 5-8; John 18: 33b-37 Preacher: Lourdes Perez Albuerne The Jewish authorities had given Pilate a man who was enigmatic. Sometimes he talked about things that were not understood. And the accusation that the Jews made of him is that he said he was King. Pilate wanted to know the truth that was enclosed in that… read more →
Readings: Daniel 12: 1-3; Hebrews 10: 11-14, 18; Mark 13: 24-32 Preacher: Patrick Fox As we close out another Liturgical Year we find ourselves in a time and space that may challenge us more than normal. Our first reading reminds us that our Hebrew sisters and brothers faced unsurpassed distress. Our second reading from the Letter to the Hebrews reminds all… read more →