Irreverently Reverend

  Ordinary Time; Pride Sunday Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest  2  and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.  3  Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.  4  He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”  5  He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.  6  But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”  7  The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one.  8  Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus....

  Christmas Eve Now in that same region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in t...

  Second Sunday of Lent The Lord is my light and my salvation;     whom shall I fear? / The Lord is the stronghold of my life;     of whom shall I be afraid? 2  When evildoers assail me     to devour my flesh— / my adversaries and foes—     they shall stumble and fall. 3  Though an army encamp against me,     my heart shall not fear; / though war rise up against me,     yet I will be confident. 4  One thing I asked of the Lord,     that will I seek after: / to live in the house of the Lord     all the days of my life, / to behold the beauty of the Lord,     and to inquire in his temple. 5  For he will hide me in his shelter     in the day of trouble; / he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;  ...

  Christmas Eve In those days Caesar Augustus declared that everyone throughout the empire should be enrolled in the tax lists.  2  This first enrollment occurred when Quirinius governed Syria.  3  Everyone went to their own cities to be enrolled.  4  Since Joseph belonged to David’s house and family line, he went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to David’s city, called Bethlehem, in Judea.  5  He went to be enrolled together with Mary, who was promised to him in marriage and who was pregnant.  6  While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby.  7  She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guestroom. 8  Nearby shepherds were living in the fields, guarding their sheep at night.  9  The Lord’s angel stood before them, the Lord’s glory shone around them, and they were terrified. 10  The...