Jesus said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.” Jesus was not being elusive with “the chief priests and elders of the people” in refusing to answer their question about his authority. He was trying to find a common frame of reference out of which to answer the… Read More »

News junkies among us might remember that the State of Louisiana passed a law requiring every classroom, from pre-school through college, to post a copy of the Ten Commandments on a bulletin board. I presume that the point behind the law is so every student would know how to behave. (Although they probably could figure… Read More »

The disciples asked Jesus, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” As good Jewish people the disciples knew their story — for good and for ill. They knew of King David and they knew of the exile. Asking about Elijah was their effort to understand how the history of the nation impacted… Read More »

Jesus said to the crowds: “To what shall I compare this generation?” Nobody likes to be criticized. Jesus shakes his head at the criticism he and his cousin, John the Baptist experienced. It seemed like no matter what you did, you were going to be criticized. People say you’re either a goody-two-shoes or a wild… Read More »

The native peoples of Mexico were conquered by the Spanish in 1519. A great sense of despair and helplessness overwhelmed the local population as their way of life was slowly being destroyed. In 1531 a local Indian, Juan Diego, was met on the hill of Tepayac by a woman who said she was the “mother… Read More »

One popular saying among believers is that God doesn’t give us anything we can’t handle. I don’t know if that is true. In fact some of the terrible things that happen in our lives or even in the world at large are beyond handling. They overwhelm our poor abilities to cope. There are somethings that… Read More »

The second part of Isaiah was written at the time of the Babylonian Exile. The nation, temple, king of Israel had all been destroyed. How easy it would have been for the Jewish people to give up. The prophet offers a word of comfort.  Here comes with power the Lord GOD, who rules by his… Read More »

Groucho Marx once said,  “I don’t want to belong to any club that would accept me as one of its members.” We can feel a similar sense of unsuitabilty about our membership as one of the people of God. We know our faults and failings which would seem to disqualify us from the kingdom of… Read More »

Once upon a time… If someone starts off like that you are alerted that what follows is not factual. However, that does not mean that what follows is not true. There might not be wizards like Harry Potter or hobbits like Frodo Baggins but what they stand for is true. The fairy tale teaches us… Read More »

One truth that focuses one’s efforts at generosity: the needs are infinite, the resources are few. There are times when difficult decisions must be made to say “no” to worthy causes. Jesus focuses the efforts of his apostles when he sends them out:  Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Go to the… Read More »