Mary and Joseph with their young son Jesus are travelling to Jerusalem with extended family. Across centuries of such family trips two essentials are conveyed; enjoy and stay safe. We genuinely mean the first one but usually in the context of the second one. Safety tends to be paramount and thus we say to children, … Continue reading “Minding Our Children and Hearting Them Too”
Category: Communion
Both Sides? Nope
Jesus is telling people to “beware of the scribes.” He notes how they like to “accept greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets.” He also notes how they like to “devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext recite lengthy prayers.” Jesus understands the scribes use … Continue reading “Both Sides? Nope”
The Power of a Partner
Pharisees ask Jesus a seemingly simple question about divorce, “Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?” Jesus, as always, shifts the unspoken premise away from patriarchy. Patriarchy is devised by and for men; their rights and control – for example over property, which includes a wife. Jesus shifts the premise toward the … Continue reading “The Power of a Partner”
Living Global, Eating Local
Jesus is revealing to the people the essence of Mystery, a God who is alive, evolving, becoming. He uses living metaphors to imagine this essential vitality of Divinity. For example, Jesus speaks of bread, also of drink and of shared meals. The deep meaningfulness of living, of being and feeling alive nourished by a vital … Continue reading “Living Global, Eating Local”
Which God Is Not Dead?
Jesus has recently fed over 5,000 people with a few loaves of bread. Using bread as a metaphor, he speaks with them about God. He recalls the old desert story of ancient ancestors who believed God gave them “bread from heaven.” Jesus reminds his listeners those ancestors died. Jesus then applies the Divine metaphor of … Continue reading “Which God Is Not Dead?”
Food Insecurity
People are concerned about being fed in this Sunday’s readings. The people of the Old Testament have risked escape from slavery in Egypt only to be near starvation in the desert. In the Gospel, thousands have been fed by Jesus. Still hungry, they risk pursuing him further. Jesus understands their hunger for food, and their … Continue reading “Food Insecurity”
The Challenge to Change Our Politics
Is politics a joke? “Mommy, I wanna grow up and become a politician. Well honey, which is it? You can’t do both.” Politics tends to be the rule of the master class and reflects religious nationalism. Sunday’s Old Testament reading shows Jeremiah concerned with politics, but only within the narrow confines of his chosen people, … Continue reading “The Challenge to Change Our Politics”
Called To Come and See
Disciples of John the Baptist, curious about Jesus, call out to him as he passes. Jesus calls for them to “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 individuals and we … Continue reading “Called To Come and See”
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 are … Continue reading “Holy Families”
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 of … Continue reading “Arriving to Hail Mother, Full of Grace”