Some disciples “had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest.” In reply, Jesus, “taking a child, placed the child in their midst, and putting his arms around it, he said to them, ‘Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me.’” However great we imagine we are,…
Jesus tells disciples, “The Son of Man will suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed.” Jesus knows how rulers, sickened with the religion of Militarism, operate. They dominate, abuse, and kill and coerce the soldiers they employ to do the same. Jesus knows they…
The Old Testament routinely shows partiality to the rich, since its writers believe wealth is a sign of God’s blessing. Poverty thus marks a person as cursed by God, a sinner. Jesus in the Gospel reverses the Old Testament. He shows no partiality to the rich. Their wealth is man-made from abusing the poor.…
Moses sets forth “statutes and decrees which,” if “observed,” will gain the dutiful a reward, ‘you may… take possession of the property which the LORD… is giving you.’ Jesus does not observe Moses patriarchal statutes and decrees, “You teach as doctrines mere human rules.” Patriarchal rules control the behavior of men who also gain…
In the Old Testament Bible reading, Joshua and his soldiers are decades into waging wars on enemies. They are wars against the people whose land Joshua believes the Lord gave to them as the Chosen People. Joshua summons his military “officers.” They “stood in ranks before the Lord” and the people. Joshua tells them,…
Mary “traveled to the hill country… and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out” “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Mary’s response shows the radical nature of such joyful union, “God has…
Jesus says, “I am the Bread of Life.” “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” Jesus is nourishing people being starved, with food and with wisdom. He is…
People are searching for Jesus. When they find him, Jesus challenges them as to why, “You are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate loaves and were filled.” Jesus challenges them further, to follow his Way, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger.”…
“A large crowd followed Jesus, because they saw the healings he was performing on the sick.” When he “saw the large crowd coming to him, he said to Philip, ‘Where can we get enough food for them to eat?’” “Philip answered him, Two hundred days wages worth of food would not be enough for…