by Mathew Swora | Dec 27, 2017
Luke 2: 1-20 When you read or hear an old familiar Bible passage like today’s Christmas story, it’s easy to drift into a mental auto-pilot as the old familiar words work their ways through old familiar mental...
by Mathew Swora | Dec 19, 2017
“…for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me.” Luke 1:48 One day, doing some channel surfing, I caught this preacher on TV boasting of how...
by Mathew Swora | Dec 15, 2017
Monday, Dec. 18: Luke 1: 26-38, The Annunciation of the Angel Gabriel to Mary. The words in verse 35, about how “the power of the Most High will overshadow” Mary and “the Holy Spirit will come upon” her reflect and repeat Israel’s experience of the glory of God...
by Mathew Swora | Dec 15, 2017
“…as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God…” 2 Peter 3:12 Introduction: The blessed old saint’s life at last came to an end, peacefully, in his bed, as he breathed his last, with his loving and sorrowing wife and family gathered around him,. As his...
by Mathew Swora | Dec 8, 2017
Monday, Dec. 11: Isaiah 61: 1-4; 8-11: Jesus read from this passage for his hometown inaugural address, in the synagogue of Nazareth (Luke 4: 14-22). But these words applied first to a people who would be restored to Zion from exile and captivity. In what ways does...
by Mathew Swora | Dec 8, 2017
Some time around 1190 AD, a handful of barefoot Christian monks in plain, ragged robes had an audience with a powerful Muslim sultan in his grand and glorious palace in Egypt. The leader of these monks was Francis of Assisi; the sultan was the cousin of Saladin, the...
