Today is the third Sunday of Advent. As we continue our journey through Advent, we’re in a time of waiting and wondering, looking back and looking forward. Advent is a time of hoping and searching. Advent is the time of light shining in the darkness, peace overcoming conflict and war, and warmth entering the cold of the world we live in. Advent is a chance of new beginnings. So we try to discover for ourselves and bring about for others images of hope offered in this season of expecting the unexpected…

It sure has been a hot summer so far. We’ve been hitting the triple-digit numbers on more than one occasion. Even across the world it’s been very hot too. So I guess it seems rather appropriate that in this morning’s gospel, we see Jesus turning up the heat as well. Jesus says, “I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled…”

Today is Pentecost Sunday, the birthday of the Church. Pentecost is a Greek word meaning fifty. So we celebrate Pentecost 50 days after the resurrection of Jesus. The readings for today so beautifully dovetail together, giving us a great view of what transpired on that first Pentecost morning…