by gary.pierce | Jan 18, 2026 | Reflections
In Matthew’s Gospel, as Jesus emerges from the waters of the Jordan, the heavens open and a voice declares: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” We often view righteousness as a legal status—a list of rules followed or a debt paid....
by gary.pierce | Jan 18, 2026 | Reflections
Today we celebrate Epiphany—the season of “manifestation” or “showing forth.” It is the moment when the light of Christ breaks out of the private stable in Bethlehem and becomes a public light for the whole world. Usually, when we think of an...
by gary.pierce | Jan 18, 2026 | Reflections
The ornaments are still on the tree, and the carols have yet to leave our heads, but the Gospel of Matthew is already pulling us into a much older, much deeper story. Just as we get comfortable at the manger, the narrative pivots. We are no longer in a peaceful...
by gary.pierce | Dec 18, 2025 | Reflections
As we move deeper into the season of Advent, our scriptures today bring us face-to-face with a difficult truth: Love is not merely a warm sentiment or a holiday feeling. True love—the kind of love that God pours into the world—is a courageous act. It is the courage to...
by gary.pierce | Dec 18, 2025 | Reflections
Waiting and Wondering in Advent We stand today at the halfway point of Advent—Gaudete Sunday—a Sunday of rejoicing. The pink candle on our wreath reminds us that the Lord is near. But Advent is a season of beautiful tension, isn’t it? It is a time when we are...
by gary.pierce | Dec 1, 2025 | Reflections
We are in the heart of Advent, a season defined by waiting. But our scriptures today tell us that waiting is not passive. It is active, demanding, and often uncomfortable. It is a time spent in the wilderness. The wilderness is a place of spiritual necessity. It is...
