Jesus is talking to people who are made “poor,” “hungry, and are “persecuted.” It is possible for these listeners to feel cursed and to become resentful over the pain done to them. But Jesus tells his “poor,” “hungry,” and “persecuted” listeners to know they are “Blessed” and to “Rejoice.” In one sense, Jesus is…
Jesus is talking to, “great crowds traveling with (him)” about the work of being his “disciple.” He tells a parable about “laying the foundation” and tells of others needed to “finish the work.” It requires we renounce our possessions, “anyone who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.” Today’s accompanying New…
In the Old Testament reading, tribal War Lords, earthly ones who projected themselves into the heavens, want their glory acclaimed by all; “I will send men out to… proclaim my glory among nations.” The War Lords want their believers to “bring all the nations as an offering to the LORD.” Nonbelievers who do not…
Jesus said to his disciples, the “Community of God… is an inexhaustible treasure… where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” Jesus’ Community of God is a Peoples Movement with a three-fold inexhaustible treasure: we relate in communion, are essentially loving, and practice creative healing power. Unfortunately, we can be diverted from…
“At that time Jesus appointed seventy-two others whom he sent ahead of him.” “‘Go on your way. Behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves… Behold, I have given you power.’” Lambs are gentle and vulnerable. They tend to stay close together, shoulder to shoulder, in a community. We see lambs with shepherds…
John of Patmos uses the symbol of a lamb in his Revelation writings. He describes a gathering of peaceful people, “a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue (who) stood before… the lamb… who will shepherd them” John is borrowing the lamb symbol from Jesus who uses…
“Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit.” He went “into the synagogue” and read, “The Spirit of God is upon me… anointing me to bring glad tidings to the poor,” “liberty to captives,” “sight to the blind,” and “let the oppressed go free.” If synagogue members were sleeping through a reading…
The people are facing many hardships. Upon learning of John the Baptist, they are “filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all, saying” he was not. The Christ “will baptize you with the Spirit.” Do we know how serious are the hardships…
When he was 12, Mary and Joseph lost Jesus. “They had journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances,” but could not find him. “They returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening…