Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! But Isaiah, there is so much to be frightened about. We’re frightened of the virus — not just the havoc it is creating in peoples’ health but also the way it has divided society. That’s not even to mention the fact that we are… Read More »

During the civil rights era one tactic employed was the “sit-in.” It was illegal in segregated states for black folk to sit at lunch counters so the protestors would deliberately do the provocative act of sitting where they won’t supposed to sit to make the world notice the state of affairs. Jesus seemed to do… Read More »

The traditional description of salvation  is the “atonement theory.” God created the world good. Adam messed up and offended God causing the gates of heaven to be shut. Since the offense was infinite the remedy needed to be infinite as well. Only God could repair an offense against God. Jesus as the Son of God… Read More »

The call of the first disciples in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark is very abrupt. Jesus calls; they follow. Luke describes a process of being a disciple that rings true to our experience. First, they are interested in what Jesus says. Then they are attracted enough to the message that they let him use… Read More »

St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians starts off, as his letters tend to do, with words of thanks and praise.  We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for… Read More »

From now until Advent the Gospel reading are taken from Luke. After Jesus’ mission is rejected in his home town of Nazareth, he moves the center of his work to Capernaum, a fishing town on the Sea of Galilee. Here he confronts the presence of evil which plagues the community. The “unclean demon” he drives… Read More »

St. Luke inaugurates the public ministry of Jesus in his home town of Nazareth. However, you almost get whiplash as he describes the scene. When Jesus assumed the prophetic mantel of “bringing glad tidings to the poor” and “letting the oppressed go free” his neighbors applauded him. All spoke highly of him and were amazed… Read More »

One of the obvious features of reading the Bible is that people are people. While we can only aspire to be as courageous and faithful as Jesus, we better recognize ourselves in the other Biblical characters. We have seen the bluster of Peter, the bull-headedness of Paul, the reluctance of Thomas, the fear of the… Read More »

There is an inherent tension in the advice St. Paul gives to the Church in Thessalonica. On the one hand he tells them to progress even more in fraternal charity. On the other he says they should  aspire to live a tranquil life, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your own hands.… Read More »

Soldiers sometimes complain that the unofficial motto of the army is “hurry up, and wait.” Everything has to be done chop, chop and then things pause for an indeterminate time. The gospel seems to have a similar rhythm. Jesus conveys a sense of urgency at the coming of the kingdom. “Stay awake!” St. Paul was rushing… Read More »