“As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out.” “And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more.” “Jesus stopped and said, … Continue reading “Sacred Hearts”
Category: Love
Learning to Fall
The Pharisees approach Jesus about divorce and admit, “Moses permitted a husband to write a bill of divorce and dismiss” his wife. But Jesus told them, It is “because of the hardness of your hearts” Moses permitted it. Later, “people were bringing children to him that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked the … Continue reading “Learning to Fall”
Ego-nomics Shifting to Eco-nomics
Jesus is shifting people away from an attachment to a deadly deity with a deadly ethic and toward a life-giving community of God with a loving ethic. “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; … Continue reading “Ego-nomics Shifting to Eco-nomics”
Appreciating Our Beauty
Jesus tells a parable about “a man going on a journey” who “called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them.” He gave them different amounts of money, called talents. One servant gave the money back without having put it to use, I knew you were a demanding person,” “so out of fear I … Continue reading “Appreciating Our Beauty”
Energy: Scarce or Generous
Jesus tells a parable, “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers.” Then, “going out at five o’clock,” he hired more. At the end of the day, he “gave them their pay.” The ones who started late “received the usual daily wage,” equal to the ones who … Continue reading “Energy: Scarce or Generous”
The Fault in Our Magnificent Selves
“Jesus said to his disciples: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.” Jesus concludes by addressing “loosing” what “binds” us. It is difficult to be honest about faults, speaking to others about theirs, having others speak to us about ours. Even if done so one … Continue reading “The Fault in Our Magnificent Selves”
Courage For Our Time
The disciples were on a boat “being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came toward them walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified.” Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do … Continue reading “Courage For Our Time”
Seeds of Love
“Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables.” He told one of “a man who sowed good seeds in his field.” But “while everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds through the wheat.” Listeners are like the characters in the parable, uncertain of what to do with people who cause problems, “’Do you want … Continue reading “Seeds of Love”
Works of Serving
Jesus has just finished serving disciples at table, which has included washing their feet. He goes on to encourage them to continue his works, “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these.” Jesus was a poor man who served … Continue reading “Works of Serving”
Able To Love
Jesus tells a parable about a loving God to fathers unlikely to believe in one. He uses the setting of a home to do so. The parable begins with an unloving son who wants to leave home and gets his father’s money to do so. But he “squandered his inheritance on a life of excess … Continue reading “Able To Love”