A reading from the Gospel according to John, which tends to magnify Jesus’ flawless and perfect divinity, is used on today’s Feast of Corpus Christi which tends to magnify Jesus’ flesh and blood humanity, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven.” The magnificence of the Incarnation, divinity enfleshed, continues to inspire.…
“When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on…
In the Gospel, Jesus urges disciples to believe in him and do his works, “I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do.” In Acts, belief and works continued to grow and thus “the number of disciples continued to grow.” However, a dozen disciples, referred to as The…
The Old Testament reading from Sirach glorifies the rule of law, telling people, “If you choose, you can keep the Lord’s commandments, they will save you.” The reading from Psalm 119 also glorifies the rule of law, using various synonyms across its many verses such as precepts, statutes, commandments, and judgments. The psalm extends…
The Old Testament relays a belief in the will of God and our duty to obey it. Isaiah believes in the importance of obeying the “will” of God to make his Chosen nation the “salvation” of all the nations. The Gospel reading instead addresses the freedom associated with Jesus. John the Baptist is reminding…
We feel new life growing within us and realize we will face challenges in sharing the child we bring to birth. In today’s readings, neither Isaiah nor Paul give priority to new life. They give priority to old beliefs about obedience to the “House of David.” Paul’s priority on obedience to the warrior David…
We feel new life growing within us and are considering future consequences of our sharing new life. Will the future treat new life with kindness? Is there evidence instead the future will treat new life with vindictiveness? The Old Testament includes an ethic of vindictiveness. Isaiah and the Psalmist both write of an image…
We feel new life growing within us and want to be guided by peaceful people from our past who have shaped us. The prophet Isaiah writes about a past patriarch, King David. King David is a warmaker who teaches us to “strike the ruthless” and “slay the wicked” erroneously believing peace will follow. The…
We feel new life growing within us and want to make a loving home from which to share our new life with the world. The Psalmist and the prophet Isaiah write about their love of the “house of the Lord.” We are advised to make our house just like the “house of God.” A…
“When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together.” “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them.” “People from every nation under heaven were staying in Jerusalem… and each one heard them speaking in their own…