Christmas Day (Year 2, NL)

This story sounds like a video game.

The wise men remind us that stargazing always involves politics.

Mary gives us permission to pause and ponder what we hear.

In Matthew, Jesus’ identity as king is the major source of conflict.

From the wise men to the wedding at Cana, joy comes from recognizing and affirming the good.

Why does Matthew insist on calling Jesus a king?

Luke has some sense of how a baby can change everything.

I am less like the Magi than some members of my church are.

Can we recognize Jesus' coming as good news?

If people can approach the faith without thinking they already know what it is, they might hear the good news for themselves.

Our busyness at Christmas hides God's busyness for us—but Luke's Gospel reveals it.

I've always assumed that the revelation here is that Jews should let the gentiles into the community. But perhaps the revelation is at least as much the fact that the gentiles want to be included.

If all it took was a star to compel a person to Bethlehem, the Magi would arrive to see a multitude.

There are many ways we receive the gift of Jesus badly.

Two new books on immigration complement each other well. And where Todd Miller’s falls short, Deirdre Cornell’s shines most brightly.