Author Archives: edithmhumphrey

Wisdom 17:2-18:1, John 5; Acts 9:32-42, Luke 24:1-12 One of the later books of the Old Testament, the Wisdom of Solomon, gives us a wise description of a hidden reality: those who oppose God are often paralyzed by their opposition, though they suppose themselves to be pro-active and practical. Listen to this passage talking aboutContinue reading “Paralysis and Pride: Sunday of the Paralytic and Fourth of Easter”

Isaiah 66, Ezekiel 44-48, Revelation 12, Revelation 21-22 This is the week for shining, the week to be bright. It is one of the few times during the year that Orthodox are forbidden to fast, for there is an action to match every season. Indeed, during Pascha we heard that wonderful hymn to the TheotokosContinue reading “Shine, O New Jerusalem!”

Luke 1:39-43; Exodus 3:1-8; Jeremiah 32:44; 33:13-16,20-22 The Hymn for this coming feast of the Annunciation proclaims: “Today is the beginning of our salvation, The revelation of the eternal mystery! The Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin As Gabriel announces the coming of Grace. Together with him let us cry to theContinue reading “When a Woman is Like a Bush: Humility and the Annunciation”

Hebrews 4:14-5:10; Mark 8:27-9:1; Genesis 14; Isaiah 53; Psalm 44/45 Hebrews 4:14-5:6, our epistle reading for Sunday (with the verses surrounding this passage) concerns not only Great Lent, but the Easter and Ascension triumph that follows. It begins with the victorious portrait of the One who has passed into the highest heavens, on our behalf.Continue reading “What About Melchizedek?: the Third Sunday of Lent”

When I was an Anglican, teaching at a Presbyterian College (where I still instruct!), I was frequently annoyed by the high-handed way in which the Revised Common Lectionary, used by both denominations, excised uncomfortable bits for its Sunday readings. Frequently, “positive” portions would be unnaturally detached from the more sober passages of judgment that wereContinue reading “On Babylon and Babies’ Heads: Psalm 136 and Preparing for Lent”

(1 Cor 8:8-13; 9:1-2; Matthew 25:31-46; Ezekiel 34) Judgment is one of those matters about which contemporary Christians prefer not to talk—or think, for that matter. But as we approach Great Lent, here we are again, confronted with the problem of God’s judgment. The language for many of our hymns and prayers of this weekContinue reading “Right but Dead Wrong! Judgment Sunday”

Job; Luke 18:10-14; 2 Timothy 3:10-15 Our King comes in majestic glory. Let us light our lamps and go forth to meet Him. Let us find our joy in Him, for He has found joy in us. He will indeed rejoice us with His marvelous light. Let us glorify the majesty of the Son andContinue reading “Preparing to Prepare: The Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee”

Ephesians 4:7-13; Psalm 67/68:18; Matthew 4:12-17; John 21:1-14 You have shown yourself forth to the world, O Lord, And the light of Your countenance has been marked on us. Knowing You, we sing Your praises. You have come and revealed Yourself, O unapproachable Light I wonder if you have the same experience that I doContinue reading “Marked by the Light: The Leave-taking of Theophany”

(2 Timothy 4:5 – 8; Mark 1:1 – 8; Malachi 3:1-5, 4:2-6) More than a century and a half ago, (Lord) Alfred Tennyson wrote words in memory of a friend’s passing, words that would be used among English speakers for decades as they mark the passage from one (Western) year to another: Ring out, wildContinue reading ““Ringing Out” and “Ringing In”: Leave-Taking of Nativity and Sunday before Theophany”

Luke 24:36-53; Luke 14:16-24; Daniel 3; Colossians 3:4-11 Nativity, which is fast upon us, is a time of both confirmation and disruption. It answers to the longings of the prophets, and the hopes of all the years; but the answer it gives is surprising. Awe strikes us as we see its combination of the expectedContinue reading “The Expected and the Unexpected: Twenty-eighth after Pentecost and Sunday of the Forefathers”