Let's begin at the beginning! Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy journey through the prologue of John's Gospel. They discuss the importance of space and place for John's community after the temple fell, how this text helps us look higher to God while also seeing the ways God is here with us, and what it means to be children of God.

Questions for Further Discussion:

Themes & Application

1. The clergy describe John’s Prologue as poetry, theology, and cosmic vision rather than narrative. How does this shape the way you hear or preach this text compared to the Christmas stories in Matthew or Luke?
2. Elizabeth highlights the Prologue’s roots in Jewish wisdom literature and Genesis, especially in the context of Jewish Christians facing displacement and exclusion. How does this historical lens deepen or complicate the message of “the Word made flesh”?
3. John emphasizes Jesus as the new “dwelling place” of God’s glory, replacing the temple and tabernacle imagery. What does it mean to understand Jesus as the locus of God’s presence rather than a place?

Personal Reflection

1. The clergy repeatedly name a sense of awe, mystery, and even silence as appropriate responses to this text. When was the last time Scripture left you feeling undone or speechless?
2. Peter speaks about a “divine deficit disorder” in modern spirituality. Do you resonate more with transcendence (God is beyond everything) or immanence (God is here with us) in your spiritual life? Which do you feel you may be neglecting?
3. John raises the question of what it means to “become” children of God if we already belong to God. What practices or choices help you live more fully into that identity?

Broader Spiritual Considerations

1. The conversation explores logos as a counter-logic to violence, division, and domination. How does John’s vision of the Word challenge cultural narratives built on power, fear, or exclusion?
2. The clergy discuss enlightenment as both seeing and participating in divine life. How does this understanding of spiritual “illumination” compare with other religious or cultural views of enlightenment?
3. Many spiritual traditions wrestle with the relationship between spirit and matter. How does this text speak into that question?

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Another dive into the Christmas story from Luke's Gospel highlights some important details we sometimes miss. Peter Walsh and Elizabeth Garnsey reflect on the historical accuracy of the enrollment, the importance of Bethlehem as the city of David, the symbolism of the swaddling cloths, and the powerful statement made by including the shepherds. Plus, does this story prove we need more Mary in the Advent lectionary?

Themes & Application

1. Unexpected Signs and Places of Salvation: A manger rather than palace; shepherds rather than priests or rulers. Where might God be breaking in where we least expect today?
2. Witness and Response: How might we imitate the shepherds’ movement from encounter to proclamation?
3. Cosmic significance within everyday life: The “heavenly host” meets ordinary shepherds. What implications does this have for how we view our most ordinary contexts?

Personal Reflection

1. Pondering Like Mary: Mary “treasured and pondered” the events in her heart. Where in your life do you sense God inviting you to ponder rather than act quickly?
2. Signs and Confirmation: Elizabeth notes Mary needed confirmation from others. Have you ever received reassurance that strengthened faith? What form did it take?
3. Powerlessness and Vulnerability: The conversation reflects on vulnerability symbolized in the infant Christ. Where is vulnerability present in your own relationships or community, and how do you respond?

Broader Spiritual Considerations

1. Mary as theologian and first interpreter: Peter proposes the infancy narratives may be rooted in Mary’s memory and theological reflection. How does imagining Mary as interpreter rather than passive mother expand how we read Scripture?
2. Divine orchestration vs. human agency: Caesar’s decree unwittingly serves God’s purposes. How should Christians understand history where divine purpose transcends human intent?
3. The hiddenness of God’s action: Why might God choose to act in humility rather than spectacle? What does this reveal about divine character and holiness?

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A potential public disgrace, a private dream, and one heck of a birth announcement! As we come to the close of Advent, Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy explore Joseph's angelic visitation. What would the cost have been for Joseph to break to break off his engagement, what do we miss by not reading Jesus' genealogy, and how will Jesus as "Emmanuel" be the fulfillment of God's desire for us?

Questions for Further Discussion:

Themes and Application

1. Much attention is given to Joseph as a central figure—his righteousness, his discernment, and his quiet obedience. What stands out to you about Joseph’s role in this story?
2. The genealogy in Matthew includes figures marked by scandal, outsider status, or complexity. Why do you think Matthew intentionally highlights these “messy” ancestors at the very start of the Gospel?
3. Peter noted that Matthew presents Jesus as both Son of David and Son of God. How do you hear these two identities working together in the story?

Personal Reflection

1. Joseph wrestles internally before receiving clarity through a dream. Can you recall a time when you had to make a difficult decision before having all the answers?
2. Dreams in Scripture are described as moments of divine communication rather than random mental activity. How open are you to the idea that God might speak through unexpected or liminal experiences?
3. Elizabeth notes that Joseph never speaks in the Gospel—he simply acts. How comfortable are you with faithful action that goes unseen or unacknowledged?

Broader Spiritual Considerations

1. The clergy describe Jesus’ birth as a new act of creation, echoing Genesis. What does it mean to think of salvation as God doing something entirely new rather than fixing something old?
2. The discussion raises questions about how Christians read Jewish Scripture responsibly. What responsibilities do we have when interpreting sacred texts that are shared across traditions?
3. As Advent draws to a close, how does this passage invite you to wait differently—not just for Christmas, but for God’s presence in everyday life?

Want to have your question or comment featured on the podcast? Leave a voicemail on our Rev'd Up hotline! Call (203) 442-5002.

Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org