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”

Blazing Love

Jesus tells disciples, “I have come to light a fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already ablaze.” Jesus lights a fire of love as do disciples. Such love blazes wild, spreading to  Samaritans, those who are poor, lepers, prostitutes, tax collectors and so many more. It challenges imperialists, of Rome, throughout … Continue reading “Blazing Love”

A Cache of Life-Giving Energy

Jesus was “determined to journey to Jerusalem’ and on the way “entered a Samaritan village.” “They would not welcome him.” “When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, ‘Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?’ Jesus turned and rebuked them, and He said, “You do not … Continue reading “A Cache of Life-Giving Energy”

Revelation: Now

In the Book of Revelation, John of Patmos has a vision of a “new earth,” for the “former earth had passed away.” Some followers of the Book destructively misinterpret the vision. They insert belief in a destructive god who will set them in rule over the ‘new earth.’ They insert belief in the deity justifying … Continue reading “Revelation: Now”