Mary is recorded in the Gospel as the mother of Jesus. Is she the mother of other children? The Gospel according to Matthew records persons inquiring about Jesus and saying, “Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?” Are not his … Continue reading “Mary and Her Children”
Author: Editor
Mary’s Pregnancy
Mary grew up in an extended family. She would have been accustomed to women being pregnant and having children. Women would have had their babies in the home. There was a great intimacy around a girl’s experience of pregnancy. Modern women might experience it as a time of little privacy but Mary would likely have … Continue reading “Mary’s Pregnancy”
Mary and Joseph
That Mary would be taken as a wife was an unquestioned expectation. It was a decision-making process that began long before her consciousness of it. Mary was part of an extended family all living together in attached dwellings. Mary’s whole family would have been involved in the considerations of who would be an appropriate husband. … Continue reading “Mary and Joseph”
Mary of Nazareth
Mary of Nazareth was a young brown skinned peasant girl. She was a hard worker with strong callused hands. Mary was an artisan, a homemaker. She made the clothing she wore from homespun wool or linen, heavy wool for the winter, light wool, linen, for the summer. She wove the clothing herself, sowed it and … Continue reading “Mary of Nazareth”
Ordering the End of the World
Paul of Tarsus writes of his belief about the end of the world and an afterlife, “in Christ all shall be brought to life, but each one in proper order.” For Paul that order means “when everything is subjected” to the supremacy of chosen faithful and then to God. When Jesus speaks about the end … Continue reading “Ordering the End of the World”
Appreciating Our Beauty
Jesus tells a parable about “a man going on a journey” who “called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them.” He gave them different amounts of money, called talents. One servant gave the money back without having put it to use, I knew you were a demanding person,” “so out of fear I … Continue reading “Appreciating Our Beauty”
Insidious Intent
Jesus is talking with disciples about wise attendants at a wedding who bring oil for their lamps. He speaks also of their counterparts, foolish attendants. The foolish attendants want the oil the wise ones have brought. The wise ones tell them, “’No.’” The wise ones have taken their needed and helpful action and the foolish … Continue reading “Insidious Intent”
Heavy Nuclear Burdens
Jesus is cautioning listeners about rulers, “They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them.” The heaviest of burdens laid upon people’s shoulders is the annihilating weaponry rulers keep producing. Not only will rulers not lift a finger to move … Continue reading “Heavy Nuclear Burdens”
Kill Your Neighbor or Love Your Neighbor
Sunday’s readings are about neighbors. The reading from Exodus says, “Thus says the Lord,” “If ever you wrong your neighbor and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry. My wrath will flare up, and I will kill you.” In the Gospel reading Jesus tells Pharisees wanting to trap him that they … Continue reading “Kill Your Neighbor or Love Your Neighbor”
How War Lords Trap Us
The Pharisees were upset about Jesus continually challenging them. They “plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech.” They construed a dilemma, a choosing of sides – or so they thought, between God and Caesar. Rulers like to trap people in conflicts. They like to trap people into taking sides in conflicts. Shall we take … Continue reading “How War Lords Trap Us”