Irreverently Reverend

  Advent III 57  When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a boy.  58  Her neighbors and relatives celebrated with her because they had heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy.  59  On the eighth day, it came time to circumcise the child. They wanted to name him Zechariah because that was his father’s name.  60  But his mother replied, “No, his name will be John.” 61  They said to her, “None of your relatives have that name.”  62  Then they began gesturing to his father to see what he wanted to call him. 63  After asking for a tablet, he surprised everyone by writing, “His name is John.”  64  At that moment, Zechariah was able to speak again, and he began praising God. 65  All their neighbors were filled with awe, and everyone throughout the Judean highlands talked about what had happened.  66  All who heard about this considered it carefully. They said, “What the...

  Palm Sunday 28  After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29  When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples,  30  saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here.  31  If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’”  32  So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them.  33  As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”  34  They said, “The Lord needs it.”  35  Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it.  36  As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road.  37  As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole mul...