Luke 2:1-20 (NRSV) In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see--

Matthew 1:18-25 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations

Exegetical Notes on Matthew 11:2-11 When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.” As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ “Truly I tell you, among those born

I'm posting these here not as a polished essay, but as a record of my observations on the text at hand. Exegetical Notes on Matthew 3:1-12 Matthew 3:1-12 (NRSV) In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’” Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to y

We thank you, Father, for the water of Baptism.   In it we are buried with Christ in His death.   By it we share in his resurrection.   Through it we are reborn by the Holy Spirit .   (Book of Common Prayer, page 306) Baptism is something that happens so often that we can easily look past its significance.   Apart from welcoming new babies into the Body of Christ, there is some deep Biblical theology that demonstrates how, through baptism, we are drawn up into the life of the Trinity. In an earlier post I spoke of how the Trinity is perfect love itself, and how Jesus Christ, in His dual nature, bridges the gap between the perfect love of the Trinity and the imperfect love of our world.   What remains is the connection to Christ.   E.L. Mascall, in “Christ, The Christian, and The Church,” describes the three major unities in this theology.   There is the unity within the Trinity.   There is the unity of Christ’s human and divine nature.   And there is the unity of the Christia

Definition of the Union of the Divine and Human Natures in the Person of Christ Council of Chalcedon, 451 A.D., Act V Therefore, following the holy fathers, we all with one accord teach men to acknowledge one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, at once complete in Godhead and complete in manhood, truly God and truly man, consisting also of a reasonable soul and body; of one substance (homoousios) with the Father as regards his Godhead, and at the same time of one substance with us as regards his manhood; like us in all respects, apart from sin; as regards his Godhead, begotten of the Father before the ages, but yet as regards his manhood begotten, for us men and for our salvation, of Mary the Virgin, the God-bearer (Theotokos); one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, Only-begotten, recognized in two natures, without confusion, without change, without division, without separation; the distinction of natures being in no way annulled by the union, but rather the characteristi

In The Name of the Father, and of The Son, and of the Holy Spirit: Life and Love Within the Trinity God is love, let heaven adore him.   These words were written by Timothy Rees and are now found in the 1982 Hymnal.   This simple statement speaks volumes towards the life and love that exists within the Holy Trinity.   The Trinity has been such an important topic that the early Church doctors spent most of their theological work coming to an understanding of this great mystery.   The ancient creed Quicunque Vult, unfortunately relegated to the Historical Documents section of the present Book of Common Prayer, describes its importance this way, “Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith … And the Catholic Faith is this: That we worship on God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity, neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance.” I always point out that this sounds great in heady theological discussions, but how does this co