Today’s readings ask us to consider to whom we belong. Zechariah speaks of his nation as the best nation and his joy in belonging to it, “Rejoice heartily, O daughter Zion, shout for joy,” “See, your king shall come to you.” Jesus speaks of “little ones,” vulnerable people who form community, as those to…
In Sunday’s first reading Moses links goodness with obedience to the Law, commanding people to “observe the commandments of the Lord.” In the Gospel, followers of Moses, the Pharisees, question the goodness of Jesus and disciples since they disobey the Law, “Why do you not keep the tradition of the elders?” A law mandating…
Sunday’s Gospel spans Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem through to his crucifixion. Jesus has brought goodness to countless people, especially through his healings. When he enters Jerusalem, “many people spread their cloaks on the road,” in appreciation for that goodness. Jerusalem’s “chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin,” are not appreciative. They know Jesus’ goodness, his…
“Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed.” Jesus understands the killer ethics of the dictator class. They will kill him and will command subordinate soldier/slaves to do the deed. An extremely small number of…
Soon after Jesus’ murder, “two of his disciples were walking to a village seven miles” away and “were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them.” ‘Conversing about all the things that had occurred.’ Conversing about…
Jesus tends not to take sides, meaning he does not play favorites or act like a judge. Jesus does however clearly take the side of life. Jesus is not on the side of war. He is on the side of peace. In Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus, the peacemaker, is letting disciples know he will always…
Betrayal is an old story. It is the story in Sunday’s Gospel in which a woman has betrayed a marriage. She is caught in the act of adultery, and, without her male partner, is forced into the street. Jesus does something unusual by how he relates with the woman. He humanizes her and frees…
Rulers who opposed Jesus from the beginning have had him forcibly arrested. He stands before Rome’s ruler for the territory, Pontius Pilate. Pilate assumes Jesus is some type of ruler, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus is not such a ruler, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom…
Jesus is telling people to “beware of the scribes.” They like to “accept greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets.” He also says they like to “devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext recite lengthy prayers.” Jesus knows scribes exploit those who are vulnerable,…