-
From Darkness Into Light
What is it we who are not blind want to see? Do we want to see the true meaning of life? Do we want to see it as desperately as the man in this Sunday’s Gospel who is born blind wants to see the physical world? When Jesus heals the blind man people react…
-
A Soft Heart and A Strong Spine
Jesus takes a risk and walks through Samaria. It is considered enemy territory. He then takes an additional risk, engaging with a woman at a well. Jesus’ disciples interpret his behavior as collusion with an enemy, they “were amazed that he was talking with a woman” and certainly a Samaritan. Jesus is simply, but…
-
Moses, Elijah, and Muhammad; Not Jesus
Similar to a previous peacemaker, Gautama Buddha, Christ Jesus creates a seismic shift in human history. This Sunday’s Transfiguration is one expression of that shift. Its seismic nature however is not appreciated by Biblical fundamentalists who write commentaries on the event. They diminish both Jesus and the Transfiguration. They do so by interpreting both…
-
Deal with the Devil
“Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert and tempted by the devil.” While the word devil conjures up monstrous images its original meaning is less horrific. Devil is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word Satan which is defined as “adversary” and means someone or something that acts ‘against’ – against us,…
-
Lilies of the Field
We have played among the wild flowers and laughed in delight. We have touched their softness and smiled at their allure. We feel the beauty of their pure being. “Which of you by worrying can add a moment to your lifespan?” “Consider the lilies of the field: They do not labor nor do they…
-
Obstruct, Resist, Love
Jesus is again replacing the Law with conscience in this Sunday’s Gospel, “You have heard the law, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.” Resistance is the current mood in the U.S. How can it be that…
-
Well-Formed Conscience Well-Formed Law
In this Sunday’s Gospel, Matthew, writing to a Jewish audience, has Jesus say, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” (Mt 5:17) The line is misinterpreted and isolated to contradict Jesus’ revolutionary life witness. In particular, the line…
-
Infectious Diseases
Leprosy is an infectious disease. It physically disfigures and disables a person. In biblical times lepers were ordered by priests to be cast out of society. In today’s Gospel a leper violates that priestly order by approaching Jesus. Jesus violates it too by caring for the man; he touches him and heals him. When…
-
Changing Through the Beatitudes
Jesus is changing the way we human beings can see the world and ourselves. He is overturning the hurtful values in which many of us are raised. He does so on a mountain side as he addresses a crowd. We learn we are blessed in ways we never realized. Blessed are we when poor…
-
Shifting To A Bright Light
“The people sit in darkness.” A tyrant, aligned with another more tyrannical ruler, controls the darkness. He’s entombing a challenger in his darkness. The people need someone to step forth as a light. Someone does and offers a vision into the darkness and, more importantly, a vision beyond it. With this Sunday’s Gospel in…