Sunday’s readings coalesce around the theme of making things new. Acts of the Apostles describes early disciples being missionaries, bringing Jesus’ new message to Gentiles. The Book of Revelation describes a new heaven and a new earth. In the Gospel Jesus is letting disciples know he is going to be killed. How will they…
Jesus said to his disciples: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies.” Jesus calls anyone and everyone to join him in the Way of Love. It is an easy way when we are among family and friends. Thus, as Jesus says, “if you love those who love you, what credit is that…
“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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
“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…
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;…
“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…