John W. Martens is professor of theology at the University of St. Thomas and director of the Master of Arts in Theology program at St. Paul Seminary, School of Divinity, St. Paul, Minnesota.

“This book feels like a warm conversation with a friend who is faithful, wise, smart, and kind. John Martens guides the reader on a spiritual journey through the Christian year with reflections that stimulate the mind and refresh the soul.”Rev. Dr. Julie Faith Parker, Assistant Professor of Old Testament, Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio

• ContentsPrefaceFirst Sunday of AdventDaily Distractions   1Second Sunday of AdventThe Comfort of Hope   3The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin MaryFull of Grace   5Third Sunday of AdventWaiting on Hope   8Fourth Sunday of AdventFulfillment of Hope   10The Nativity of the LordGod Among Us   13The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and JosephChildren of Hope   16The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of GodThe Mother of Jesus   18The Epiphany of the LordJourney of Hope   21The Baptism of the LordSpirit of Justice   23First Sunday of LentIn the Wilderness   25Second Sunday of LentHearing God Speak   27Third Sunday of LentGod’s Word for Us   29Fourth Sunday of LentThe Weakness of Sin   31Fifth Sunday of LentFollowing the Servant   33Palm Sunday of the Lord’s PassionA Little Thing   35Easter SundayAn Empty Tomb   37Second Sunday of EasterOne Heart and Soul   39Third Sunday of EasterOur Witnesses   41Fourth Sunday of EasterThe Shepherd’s Love   43Fifth Sunday of EasterDisciples I Fear   45Sixth Sunday of EasterSame as It Ever Was?   47The Ascension of the LordWhat Time It Is   49Seventh Sunday of EasterThe Fellowship of the Holy Spirit   51Pentecost SundayThe Spirit of Truth Comes   54The Solemnity of the Most Holy TrinityAdopted Into the Family of God   56The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of ChristBread of Heaven   58The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin MaryWomen Together   60The Solemnity of All SaintsCalling All Sinners   63Second Sunday in Ordinary TimeFinding a Friend   65Third Sunday in Ordinary TimeFollowing a Friend   68Fourth Sunday in Ordinary TimeTell Me the Good News   70Fifth Sunday in Ordinary TimeThe Work of the Kingdom   72Sixth Sunday in Ordinary TimeThe Joy of Wholeness   74Seventh Sunday in Ordinary TimeSame Old, Same Old   77Eighth Sunday in Ordinary TimeA Time to Fast   80Ninth Sunday in Ordinary TimeThe Human Touch   83Tenth Sunday in Ordinary TimeLife Now and Then   85Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary TimeThe Kingdom Unusual   88Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary TimeNew Creation   90Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary TimeNo Delight in Death   93Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary TimeTransformed by the Messiah   95Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary TimeWhere Do You Live?   97Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary TimeShepherd Us   99Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary TimeNo One Should Have Nothing   102Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary TimeHunger for the Truth   105Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary TimeA Sense of God   107Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary TimeFood of Wisdom   109Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary TimeSubjects, Not Objects   111Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary TimeJust Do It   114Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary TimeBe Strong; Do Not Fear   117Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary TimeThe Things of God   119Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary TimeThe Greatest   121Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary TimeThe Challenge of the Word   123Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary TimeLittle Children of the Word   125Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary TimeThe Spirit of Wisdom   127Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary TimeSuffering Servant   129Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary TimeThe Sum of Mercy   131Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary TimeHear, O Israel   133Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary TimeWidows and Scribes   136Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary TimeNow or Then   138The Solemnity of Christ the KingKing of All   140

John W. Martens is professor of theology at the University of St. Thomas and director of the Master of Arts in Theology program at St. Paul Seminary, School of Divinity, St. Paul, Minnesota.

“This book feels like a warm conversation with a friend who is faithful, wise, smart, and kind. John Martens guides the reader on a spiritual journey through the Christian year with reflections that stimulate the mind and refresh the soul.”Rev. Dr. Julie Faith Parker, Assistant Professor of Old Testament, Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio

• ContentsPrefaceFirst Sunday of AdventDaily Distractions   1Second Sunday of AdventThe Comfort of Hope   3The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin MaryFull of Grace   5Third Sunday of AdventWaiting on Hope   8Fourth Sunday of AdventFulfillment of Hope   10The Nativity of the LordGod Among Us   13The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and JosephChildren of Hope   16The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of GodThe Mother of Jesus   18The Epiphany of the LordJourney of Hope   21The Baptism of the LordSpirit of Justice   23First Sunday of LentIn the Wilderness   25Second Sunday of LentHearing God Speak   27Third Sunday of LentGod’s Word for Us   29Fourth Sunday of LentThe Weakness of Sin   31Fifth Sunday of LentFollowing the Servant   33Palm Sunday of the Lord’s PassionA Little Thing   35Easter SundayAn Empty Tomb   37Second Sunday of EasterOne Heart and Soul   39Third Sunday of EasterOur Witnesses   41Fourth Sunday of EasterThe Shepherd’s Love   43Fifth Sunday of EasterDisciples I Fear   45Sixth Sunday of EasterSame as It Ever Was?   47The Ascension of the LordWhat Time It Is   49Seventh Sunday of EasterThe Fellowship of the Holy Spirit   51Pentecost SundayThe Spirit of Truth Comes   54The Solemnity of the Most Holy TrinityAdopted Into the Family of God   56The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of ChristBread of Heaven   58The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin MaryWomen Together   60The Solemnity of All SaintsCalling All Sinners   63Second Sunday in Ordinary TimeFinding a Friend   65Third Sunday in Ordinary TimeFollowing a Friend   68Fourth Sunday in Ordinary TimeTell Me the Good News   70Fifth Sunday in Ordinary TimeThe Work of the Kingdom   72Sixth Sunday in Ordinary TimeThe Joy of Wholeness   74Seventh Sunday in Ordinary TimeSame Old, Same Old   77Eighth Sunday in Ordinary TimeA Time to Fast   80Ninth Sunday in Ordinary TimeThe Human Touch   83Tenth Sunday in Ordinary TimeLife Now and Then   85Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary TimeThe Kingdom Unusual   88Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary TimeNew Creation   90Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary TimeNo Delight in Death   93Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary TimeTransformed by the Messiah   95Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary TimeWhere Do You Live?   97Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary TimeShepherd Us   99Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary TimeNo One Should Have Nothing   102Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary TimeHunger for the Truth   105Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary TimeA Sense of God   107Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary TimeFood of Wisdom   109Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary TimeSubjects, Not Objects   111Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary TimeJust Do It   114Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary TimeBe Strong; Do Not Fear   117Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary TimeThe Things of God   119Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary TimeThe Greatest   121Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary TimeThe Challenge of the Word   123Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary TimeLittle Children of the Word   125Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary TimeThe Spirit of Wisdom   127Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary TimeSuffering Servant   129Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary TimeThe Sum of Mercy   131Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary TimeHear, O Israel   133Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary TimeWidows and Scribes   136Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary TimeNow or Then   138The Solemnity of Christ the KingKing of All   140