Studying lectionary texts? Here are some starting places for study at ATLA this week. If you are the graduate of an accredited U.S. theological school, you may have free access to these articles through your school. Check ATLAS access options. You can find full lists of ATLAS recommended articles for this week at The Text This Week's page for this week's texts.
Christmas Eve/Day
December 24/25, 2011
Isaiah 9:2-7
- Luther, Martin, "'To Us a Child Is Born': Sermon on Isaiah 9:6, Afternoon of Christmas Day, December 25, 1531," Word & World, 1996.
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Isaiah 62:6-12
- Hooker, Paul K., "Between Text & Sermon: Isaiah 62:6-12," Interpretation, 2006.
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“It occurs to this writer, however, that the eschatological hope of Isa 62:6-12 has a greater relevance not confined to Christmas Day, one that belongs to every day and every act of proclamation. The purpose of preaching is to articulate the invitation of God into a new reality, one so different in kind from that which we presently call "real" as to be visible only to the faithful imagination.”
Psalm 98
- Davis, Ellen F., "Expository Article: Psalm 98," Interpretation, 1992.
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“Because of its theme of judgment, along with the strains of both celebration and hope, Psalm 98 is particularly suited for use from Advent through Epiphany. In six weeks the church moves from early Advent's sober preparation for the coming of Christ in judgment, through the joyous Feast of the Incarnation, to Epiphany, the great season of Christian hope, which looks toward judgment, now with eagerness, as the full realization in glory of the power once glimpsed in a Judaean corncrib.”
Titus 2:11-14
- Thompson, Dean K., "Between Text and Sermon: Titus 2:11-14," Interpretation, 2001.
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“We currently live and respond to God's miraculous and loving actions for us somewhere between Christ's first coming and second coming, somewhere between the epiphany of God's grace and the epiphany of God's glory. This time-between-the-times is an arena of active waiting for God's ultimate completion and fulfillment of the creation—a creation that we can neither complete nor fulfill.”
Luke 2:1-20
- Borg, Marcus, "When Heaven and Earth Meet," The Living Pulpit, 1996.
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“Joy involves a felt sense of connectedness to what is. It involves the union of heaven and earth, of spirit and flesh.”
- Boyce, James L., "For You Today a Savior: The Lukan Infancy Narrative," Word & World, 2007.
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“Luke's story of the births of John the Baptist and Jesus presents a compelling narrative that shapes a Christmas message of the promises of God for today and has power to awaken faith and transform hearers into witnesses of the gospel.”
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