A psychology professor who had no children would frequently reprove his neighbor for scolding her child: “You should love your child, not punish him.” One hot summer day the professor repaired his concrete driveway spending many hours of hard work on it. When finished he turned back on his accomplishment and out of the…
“Do you love me?” I asked upon looking into the mirror in my youth. “Respect who you are.” “Do you love me?” they asked as I sought to join them. “Stand with us in our time of need.” “Do you love me?” he asked as we journeyed into marriage. “Be with me, for better,…
The Third, Fourth, and Fifth Sunday’s in Lent provide something called an alternate Gospel reading. Its message is virtually identical to the regular Gospel. The alternate is provided for adults who are preparing for baptism. The institutional Church requires they go through a process called The Scrutinies. While The Scrutinies are encouraged for all…
Jesus knows the teachings of the Jewish tradition. After he has been away for a while he returns to the local synagogue and reads from its teachings. He is thus known again by the men of his village as being one of them. However, Jesus then interprets the reading in such a way that…
“A little more wine?” “I’d love some.” Who wouldn’t love a little more wine. W.C. Fields loved wine. He loved it so much he once said, “I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food.” If the comedian had lived at the time of Jesus, he would have been his best…
Matthew’s desire to illuminate Jesus’ likely obscure birth has him pen a story of Magi visiting the manger. The Magi serve as a counter-balance to Herod. The Magi are wise, Herod foolish. The Magi are honest, Herod deceptive. The Magi bring gifts to welcome a birth, Herod devises a plot to carry out a…
A story is told about Jesus being lost when he is 12 years old. Mary and Joseph are returning home from a festival in Jerusalem. Having journeyed for a day already, Mary and Joseph cannot find Jesus nestled in the safety of extended family members. They return to the city and, after three days…
In this Sunday’s Gospel, John the Baptist is sought after as a man of integrity, humble and wise. Some people begin to wonder if he is the Christ. Being humble John deflects any potential glory and directs people toward another: “there is one who comes after me.” Interestingly enough, Jesus, who John is heralding,…
Two of Jesus’ followers, James and John, engage him in a quite calculated conversation: “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” Jesus replied, “What do you wish me to do for you?” They answered, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the…
Shocking in its day and still now is Jesus’ encounter with a rich young man. The man keeps the commandments but, because he is rich, is said to lack godliness, “Go and sell what you have to the poor.” Not only is the rich young man stunned by this news the disciples are too.…