As befits a primarily agricultural economy images from farming are predominant in the Bible. Farmers, planting, reaping, weeds, etc. all serve as metaphors for spiritual realities. Seeds are mentioned frequently, perhaps because of the almost miraculous power they possess. Put a tiny acorn in the ground and eventually that seed produces a mighty multi-ton oak.… Read More »
SEPTEMBER182020
You can picture St. Luke’s wife telling him, “Don’t forget to mention the women.” His is the only gospel that particularly mentions the role of women right up there with the twelve apostles. Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another… Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of… Read More »
SEPTEMBER172020
A few years ago there was a book published entitled “The 100 Most Influential People in History.” According to this list Number One was the Prophet Mohammed. The author argued that, while Jesus (#3 on the list) has inspired billions of followers, his movement was dependent on St. Paul to be successful. St. Paul would… Read More »
SEPTEMBER162020
Human nature hasn’t changed much over the centuries. One thing is true, no matter what you do you will be criticized. Jesus observed how he was criticized for one thing and John the Baptist for the opposite: ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a dirge, but you did… Read More »
SEPTEMBER152020
We tend to think of suffering as something to avoid. Mothers can tell you that suffering is woven into their job description. The only picture my mother had on her bureau was of my youngest brother playing in the surf when he was a toddler. She explained that picture symbolized motherhood for her — the… Read More »
SEPTEMBER142020
In the play Man of La Mancha Aldonza asks Sancho Panza why he is following Don Quixote. “What do you get out of it?” she questions. “You’ve gotten nothing.” Her question is a reminder that there is a human tendency to wonder “what’s in it for me?” St. Paul, explains the meaning of the cross not… Read More »
SEPTEMBER132020
Jesus began his ministry “announcing the good news of God.” We call the accounts of his life “gospels,” good news stories. Those who are his followers strive to live the gospel life, the life of good news. Certainly part of that good news is that we are forgiven. No matter what we have done God… Read More »
SEPTEMBER122020
Evangelization is now a given in Catholic circles. Pope Francis said that we are all missionary disciples called to spread the faith. We must be careful, though, not to equate evangelization with getting people on the Church rolls. As Jesus warns us, our yardstick for success as evangelists is not necessarily larger church membership but… Read More »
SEPTEMBER112020
Corinth was a great place for St. Paul to base his missionary operation. In years when the Olympics weren’t being held athletes would gather from all of Greece to compete in the Isthmian Games. Paul had many occasions to utilize his skills a tent-maker. Like Jesus before him, Paul used the common experiences of the… Read More »
SEPTEMBER102020
The evangelists took the story of Jesus they had inherited and told it in a way that made sense to their hearers. Apparently Jesus once gave a long sermon describing a radical way of life. Matthew describes this sermon as “on the Mount” since his Jewish audience would make the immediate connection with Moses receiving… Read More »
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