In the first reading this Sunday, Ezra is reading to the people from “the book of the law of God.” He is speaking out in support of their ruler, Nehemiah. He is instructing the people to support Nehemiah. Nehemiah is a nationalist who is dividing the people from neighbors. He is rebuilding a wall…
Ancient Israel is a small nation but demands great attention due to its War Lords writing of their supremacy over others as God’s “Chosen People.” They are “majestic, descendants of a “royal line.” Conversely, Jesus draws great attention due to gathering a growing people’s movement, The Community of God. He describes it in humble…
Jesus speaks of great purpose and focus in the parables he tells this Sunday, “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field which a person finds… and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant…
“When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together.” “Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Spirit.” There gathered a large crowd of “Parthians, Medes and Elamites, inhabitants of…
Jonah is given the task of converting sinners, the “wicked” people of Nineveh. He walks away from the task feeling no desire nor urgency given their wickedness. He eventually carries it out and the people convert. “But this greatly displeased Jonah, and he became angry.” He believed the sinners deserved the wrath of the…
Jesus tells disciples, in the “Community of God” caring for the least is caring for him, “Whatever you did for one of the least of mine, you did for me.” Opponents of Jesus who support the kingdom of Caesar will not care for the least and therefore will not care for Christ Jesus nor…
Sunday’s readings show a consciousness about a culture’s laws. First there is a consciousness of the Ten Commandments, then consciousness of the Levitical priesthood and its many laws, and finally the consciousness of a scribe who questions Jesus about all law. The scribe, a legal scholar, asks Jesus, “Which is the first of all…
Jesus tells a parable about the Community of God being a community of generosity. A farmer makes sure all farm workers benefit from a full day’s wage though not all work a full day’s hours. Not everyone likes the farmer’s generosity, “These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal…