Advent is about the pain and surprising hope of waiting. We see it everywhere in scripture—including in the story of Hannah in First Samuel. We see it in her inability to...

Bodies are important to God because they are sites of healing, transformation, touch, and comfort. Nobody—no body—is disqualified from the work of God-bearing. As Mary bore Jesus into the world, so...

During this season, it’s common to hear Mark Lowry’s popular Christmas song “Mary, Did You Know?” It may appear on the radio, in the Christmas cantata, or on a favorite holiday...

Often when we focus on Mary, we tend to zero in on her youth, obedience, and chastity. All of this is, of course, part of Mary’s story. But it can be...

In this beautiful, powerful passage, we witness something great. Here, two of the first named prophets of the New Testament greet each other, rejoicing in the work God is doing in...

During this season, prophecy can feel extraordinarily close, just at the tips of our fingers. We can marvel at a child in a manger. We can relate to the struggle of...

Bodies are important to God. It can be easy to overlook the embodied nature of our God’s story, especially during this season. Our eyes turn to the ethereal, heavenly messengers, to...

The turn toward Advent is a difficult turn to make. We issue this ancient call to contemplation at the same time we receive calls for year-end reports, charity solicitations, academic finals,...

John the Baptist is preaching the good news of Jesus Christ. Because of the success of John’s mission, people are wondering if John himself is the promised one. But, no. John...

The message of John the Baptist was directed at all classes in the Pharisaic society. The people in the audience of John’s message were proud of being descendants of Abraham, but...