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The Challenge to Change Our Image of God
Sunday’s first reading makes the judgment all the earth and all her people are evil. One man alone is just, Noah. The Lord God of the Old Testament was thus believed to have saved only that one man and killed everything else. When everything living is dead, that Lord God promises not to do…
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Balanced Lives
One of Jesus’ new disciples, Peter, has a sick mother-in-law. Jesus goes to her and heals her of a fever. Emerging from her solitude of suffering, she immediately begins to be of service to those in her home. When others learn Jesus healed her, it is written, “the whole town was at the door.”…
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Christian Revolution
Today’s first reading revolves around an Old Testament deity. He sends Jonah round and round the city of Nineveh announcing the bad news, “Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed,” The revolutions of old always turn round and round on dominators who make threats of death and destruction. Today’s Gospel reading revolves around…
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Called To Come and See
Disciples of John the Baptist, curious about Jesus, call out to him as he passes. Jesus calls out to them in response, “Come and see” – Come and see where I am staying and with whom. We learn Jesus stays with those who are rejected; laborers, tax collectors, prostitutes. We see Jesus among marginalized…
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Innocence Is a Radiant Journey
The story is told of those who are wise making a journey toward a star, a radiance in the sky. They know not where their journey will take them. They believe they know who it will take them to. They journey toward an innocent child; one they think is destined to be king. Along…
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Holy Families
The Feast of the Holy Family is celebrated with a Gospel message of unity. Mary and Joseph together with their newborn babe have journeyed to the Temple. They have come to give thanks for their child, Jesus. It is one of the few Gospel descriptions with all three together in one story. There, they…
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Arriving to Hail Mother, Full of Grace
In every month, the angel Gabriel is sent from God and arrives at a town called Nazareth, Salem, Ankara, Mumbai to a woman named Mary, Katherine, Zehra, Chunhua. And coming to her, the angel says, “Hail, favored one! God is with you.” But she is troubled at what is said and ponders what sort…
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Arriving at Communion with a Stranger
It is again the case that an Advent reading preparing us for Jesus’ birth arrival is concerned about another arrival and thus John the Baptist is again emphasized rather than Mary. The Gospel reading finds John the Baptist in conversation with strangers. They seek answers as to who John is and why he witnesses…
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Remarkable Arrival
It is seemingly remarkable that it is not always Jesus’ birth arrival, Advent, that is emphasized in readings during Advent. Leading up to Christmas, it is just as often, if not more often, that Jesus’ arrival into public life is emphasized. One result is a greater emphasis not on Mary but on John the…