In the book and movie, Dune, the hero recites a mantra when confronting a dangerous situation. “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. Where the fear has gone there will… Read More »

Habakkuk is another of the Jewish prophets who ministered at the crucial juncture after the destruction of the Northern Kingdom of Israel but before the temple in Jerusalem was burnt to the ground  — late seventh century, early sixth centure B.C. (Habakkuk is an important figure in Islam as well so he has two tombs!… Read More »

The prophet Nahum was likely writing in the seventh century, B.C., after the destruction of the northern kingdom of Israel by the Assyrians. The prophet says that the shoe will soon be on the other foot and Assyrian will be destroyed. This prophecy came true when the Babylonians razed Nineveh in 612, B.C. God is… Read More »

The Feast of the Transfiguration reminds us that the bulk of Jesus’ life and ministry could be called ordinary. Unlike the vision of Daniel with strange images and unusual activity the coming of the Son of Man in actual history was characterized by eating, drinking, talking, walking. There was the unusual event at his baptism… Read More »

Many of us have had an experience like this. You get a solicitation in the mail to what seems to you to be a worthy cause. You send a few bucks. Suddenly you are inundated by dozens, hundreds of letters seeking support. You simply can’t give to them all. We have to choose who to… Read More »

You can get whiplash hearing the prophecies of Jeremiah. He starts off with doom and gloom. For thus says the LORD: Incurable is your wound,  no remedy for your running sore, no healing for you. Then a few verses later the word from the Lord continues: Thus says the LORD: See!  I will restore the… Read More »

The confrontation between Hananiah and Jeremiah is instructive for our time. You had two figures, each claiming to bringing the word of God, but with opposite conclusions. Hananiah prophesized peace and prosperity. This was not so unusual. Isaiah had done the same. Jeremiah prophesizeed destruction and the call to repentence. How were the people to… Read More »

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. My favorite Bible verse! It says that God’s love is… Read More »

On Sundays, the first reading and the gospel are meant to comment on each other. On weekdays, the scripture readings are simply read chapter by chapter, book by book with no reference intended between the first reading and the gospel. It is a happy coincidence, a providence, to have readings like today’s which serve as… Read More »

Jehoiakim was like politicians we see nowadays. As the kingdom of Judah diminished he kept switching sides between Egypt and Babylond depending on who would keep him in power. In the end it did him no good and he died in disgrace. Jesus on the other hand was a man of integrity. No matter what… Read More »