In St. Mark’s gospel the usual pattern after Jesus performed a miracle is that he told the healed person not to tell anyone about it.  Scholars call this the “messianic secret.” An exception to this occurs when Jesus heals the possessed man in the Gerasene territory (pagan territory on the other side of the Sea… Read More »

Go into a store during these next few days and you’ll see lots of cupid hearts and red roses.  Valentine’s Day is coming, the day when our country celebrates love.  We use that day to remind us that love makes the world go round.  Turn on any radio station and listen to the songs.  How… Read More »

“Since the children share in blood and flesh, Jesus had to become like his brothers and sisters in every way.” The Fourth Eucharistic Prayer puts it that Jesus was “like us in all things but sin.” Since Jesus is like us he had to learn — maybe particularly to learn how to deal with difficult people.… Read More »

Imagine a boy in first century Palestine coming home and his mother asked him, “Where have you been, Shlomo?” “I was listening to the new teacher from Nazareth?” “Oh, what did he teach?” “He said that the kingdom of God was like a planted seed that grew and eventually became ripe for harvest.” “That’s it?… Read More »

“We should not stay away from our assembly.” There is a strange consolation that people not coming to Church is not a new phenomenon but existed from the very beginning. This is important, the author of the Hebrews asserts, because “we must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works.” Faith is… Read More »

The parable of the Sower and the Seed has a different emphasis than the explanation of the parable. The parable is all about the sowing.  “A sower went out to sow.” The explanation of the parable talks about the success or failure of the sowing. This probably reflects the situation of the Church remembering the parable… Read More »

Jesus said, “Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” Biology is not destiny. The blood relations which made one a Jew would not have the same force in the kingdom of God proclaimed by Jesus. It was doing the will of God that forged bonds of unity. Think about… Read More »

“Christ is mediator of a new covenant.” Covenant is used in the Bible to refer to the reciprocal relationship that God has with us. The people of Israel are the “chosen people” because God entered into a particular relationship with them. The people promised fidelity to God and God promised to be there for them.… Read More »

A friend of mine worked for one of the bishops in California. The bishop was away so he called back to the diocese. “John,” he asked, “how are things going.” John answered, “Bishop, you wouldn’t believe it. The blind are seeing, the captives are released and the poor have good news preached to them.” “Cut… Read More »

Families can be the source of our greatest joys. St. Paul wrote to Timothy: “I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice.” It was from his family that Timothy got the values, the virtues that guided his life. On the other hand, families can be the… Read More »