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, “out … Continue reading “Entrusted with Being Alive”
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Saying No to Fools and Yes to Wisdom
Jesus tells a story showing how the “Kingdom of God will be like women who took their lamps and went out to meet a bridegroom.” But the bridegroom “was long delayed.” Some women were wise and had brought “flasks of oil.” Others were “foolish” and “brought no oil with them.” The fools demand of the … Continue reading “Saying No to Fools and Yes to Wisdom”
Christian Is An Action Verb
Jesus’ opening teaching in the Sermon on the Mount is referred to as The Beatitudes. They are the Gospel reading commemorating the active witness of every saint on every All Saints Feast Day. Given the active witness of saints, it is therefore at least odd that the Beatitudes are inaccurately translated into the passive voice, … Continue reading “Christian Is An Action Verb”
Being Afraid to Love is the Problem
Rulers judge Jesus is a problem and they target problem people with hostility. Jesus focuses on people as friends and is loving. It is therefore not Jesus nor his disciples who are the problem but rulers and their supporters. Thus, the encounter in today’s Gospel when a ruler, “a scholar of the law, tested” the … Continue reading “Being Afraid to Love is the Problem”
Belonging to Caesar
The ‘Chosen People’ of ancient Israel were defeated by Babylonian enemies and dreamed of rebuilding their empire. When Persia’s King Cyrus defeated Babylon, he furthered the Israelites’ realization of that dream and they acclaim him. Cyrus is thus contrived as an agent of Yahweh, “Thus says the Lord to his anointed, Cyrus.” “It is I … Continue reading “Belonging to Caesar”
Being Present To Christ
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 one … Continue reading “Being Present To Christ”
Fruitfulness in Community
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 greedy … Continue reading “Fruitfulness in Community”
What is Being Asked of Us?
Jesus tells a parable to “the chief priests” about the “Kingdom of God,” symbolized as a vineyard. Two sons are asked to “go out and work in the vineyard.” Jesus likens one of the sons, who says “Yes,” to the work, but then does not do it, to the priests. Jesus likens the other son, … Continue reading “What is Being Asked of Us?”
Scoundrels
“Let the scoundrel forsake his way,” says Isaiah. A scoundrel is a wicked person who causes division, for example, through supremacy. Jesus tells a parable about men working with others at a task but who then become scoundrels; ‘on receiving their fair wage they grumbled.’ They cause division by acting as supremacists over their co-workers. … Continue reading “Scoundrels”
Forgiving Seventy-Seven Times
Peter is pondering a limit or cap on the number of times he needs to forgive someone. He says to Jesus, “If my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus famously responds, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.” Who of us have forgiven … Continue reading “Forgiving Seventy-Seven Times”