“When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds… followed him on foot.” “When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he healed their sick. When it was evening, the disciples…
Like last Sunday, several instances of Jesus’ teaching on the Kingdom of God are again squeezed into today’s Gospel selection. Again, the teaching itself is squeezed out – that the Kingdom of God, better translated as the Community of God, is happening in the here and now in our peaceful social transformation of the…
“Magi from the east… seek the newborn king.” “We saw his star at its rising” they tell King Herod. “King Herod was greatly troubled.” He believes Jesus wants his throne and will fight him to keep it. Herod plans to kill the child. From the Gospel we know of the darkness the warmaker King…
The Old Testament’s prophet Habakkuk is wanting the Lord to do his violent duty, “How long, O LORD, must I… cry out to you, “Violence!” and you do not intervene?” The Lord finally avenges the Israelites and does his violent duty against enemy sinners, “For the violence done to (Israel) shall overwhelm you,” sinners.…
The Old Testament reading tells us, “Thus says the LORD: Rejoice with Jerusalem… In Jerusalem you shall find your comfort.” “The LORD’s strength shall be revealed to his people, but to his enemies, his wrath.” In the Gospel, disciples are sent out beyond Jerusalem, not to show their strength through wrath against enemies but…
Jesus says to the disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” Pietro di Morone (1209-1296), whose feast day was recently celebrated, was a peaceful monk who had both retreated…
“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the rulers, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.” “Thomas, called…
Isaiah in the Old Testament writes of the War Lord Yahweh saying, “Here is my servant whom I uphold.” Through this servant, there is the expectation of a coming triumph against enemies, “I, the LORD, have called you for the victory… and he shall divide the spoils with the mighty. “Luke in the Gospel…
“When Jesus was born” “in the days of King Herod, behold, Magi from the east” inquired, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled.” “Then Herod called the magi secretly and…