Though it was near a notable place, Ramah, where one of the matriarchs of Israel, Rachel, had died, “Ephrathah” was, as scripture tells us, virtually “too small” to be noticed. Yet, the prophet Micah says it would be the place of a new king in the line of King David.

IF YOU'VE EVER WATCHED the movie Legally Blonde with the fabulous Reese Witherspoon, you know why some presiders are timid about donning the rose-colored vestments this weekend. Pink is—how shall I say this?—such a chipper hue.

“If you have two coats, give one away,” he said. “Do the same with your food.” Tax men also came to be baptized and said, “Teacher, what should we do?” He told them, “No more extortion—collect only what is required by law.”

My mother makes the best eggs. Fried eggs, scrambled eggs, omelets, quiche. I don’t know how she does it. There’s no secret ingredient. I’ve watched her make eggs countless times, studied her technique, but I can’t replicate it. It’s a mystery.

TO OPEN OURSELVES to God’s joy, let us pray for forgiveness of our failings and sins.

"Fear not,” scripture tells us. “Have no anxiety at all.” Why not? “The Lord, your God, is in your midst”; “the Lord is near.” But how: “What should we do?” Answer: “Shout for joy,” of course, and “cry out with joy and gladness”—in a word: “Rejoice!”

The fullness of joy is to behold God in everything. —Julian of Norwich (1342-c. 1416)