In today’s Old Testament reading the Warlord Yahweh calls the Warlord Jacob to, “Exult at the head of the nations.” The New Testament reading says “every high priest” is “called by God” to offer blood “sacrifices for sins.” In the Gospel, a blind man, Bartimaeus, calls Jesus to heal him. “Many rebuked him, telling him … Continue reading “Walking Away From the Call to War”
Tag: children
Holy Children, Holy Families
Mary and Joseph are bringing their new baby, Jesus, “up to Jerusalem.” They are met by a man named “Simeon” who receives their little one as the “Christ.” Simeon beheld the child as one who would transform the world and “took him into his arms and blessed God.” “There was also a prophetess, Anna.” She … Continue reading “Holy Children, Holy Families”
The Gift of Epiphany
To have an epiphany is to experience suddenly a lovely expression of the Fullness of Mystery in the world. Epiphany describes the experience of the Magi. The Magi are three wise travelers who seek that Fullness of Mystery and experience, suddenly, its lovely expression. Their experience is realized in the face of a child. The … Continue reading “The Gift of Epiphany”
Teach Us to Pray
Jesus’ early disciples, as we meet them in the Gospel, are all adults. They include fishermen, homemakers, and tax collectors. They have learned trades and disciplines. They have also learned who God is and how to pray from their religious rulers. There is much they know. Then Jesus comes along. They do not entirely know … Continue reading “Teach Us to Pray”
Weeds and Wheat
The story is told of a man driving a winding country road. He is almost run off it by a woman who rounds a curve too wide. As she gets back onto her side she yells at him, “Pig!” He promptly responds, “Idiot!” only to round the bend and crash into a pig. We don’t … Continue reading “Weeds and Wheat”