Spending time this Advent with Mary, and women in general, we can discover women are powerful. We would not know that power from today’s Old Testament reading. It promotes atonement, meaning it promotes “sin” and “guilt.” The Gospel reading does not promote atonement but does address it with John in the desert. He proclaims…
If we spend time this Advent with Mary, and women in general, what might we discover? Today’s Advent readings lend themselves to discovering women are adventurers. The Old Testament addresses “wanderers”, but do so as a rebuke. They wandered far from their family of origin and from the tribe with its law and traditions.…
Jesus tells disciples, in the “Community of God” caring for the least is caring for him, “Whatever you did for one of the least of mine, you did for me.” Opponents of Jesus who support the kingdom of Caesar will not care for the least and therefore will not care for Christ Jesus nor…
Jesus tells a story of people entrusted with a man’s livelihood. The man is going on a journey and entrusts to three people money of varying amounts. Two put it to good use. When the man returns, they give back what they had been entrusted with and so much more. But the third man,…
Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount is referred to as The Beatitudes. The Beatitudes are read every All Saints Day. They exemplify the active witness of disciples. Given that active witness, it is odd that the Beatitudes are inaccurately translated into the passive voice. For example, “Blessed are the poor in spirit,…
Rulers judge Jesus is a problem and rulers target problem people with hostility. Jesus centers himself on people as friends and is focused on being loving. It is therefore not Jesus nor his disciples who are the problem but rulers and their supporters. This is exemplified in today’s Gospel encounter when a ruler, “a…
The ‘Chosen People’ of ancient Israel, captured by Babylon, dreamed of rebuilding their empire. When Persia’s King Cyrus defeated Babylon, he helped the Chosen people realize that dream. The people therefore acclaim Cyrus as an agent of Yahweh, “Thus says the Lord to his anointed, Cyrus.” “It is I who arm you, though you…
Jesus uses a parable about a “wedding feast” to describe “the Kingdom of God.” Initially invited guests, representing the kingdom of Israel, refuse to come. The celebration is now open to everyone as servants are told, “Go out into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.” Later, it is discovered…
Jesus tells rulers a parable about the Kingdom of God on earth by describing a farmer who plants a vineyard. He leases its care to tenant farmers who reveal themselves as both greedy and murderous, “This is (the farmer’s) heir. Come let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.” The tenant farmers represent the…