In the final weeks of the Easter season the Gospel readings for the Sundays and weekdays are taken almost entirely from Jesus rsquo farewell discourse in John 13 ndash 17 In saying goodbye to his disciples Jesus reflects on what their lives will be like when he will no longer be with them as he
Daniel J. Harrington
Posted inArts & Culture, Books
Gods Agent
The words ldquo messiah rdquo and ldquo messianism rdquo are often used loosely not only in popular culture but also in religious discourse even in biblical scholarship This magisterial study of these terms in the Bible and related ancient sources by a premier biblical scholar of our time brin
Posted inThe Word
Love Is the Answer
There are two great questions in the Easter season How could the community formed by the earthly Jesus carry on without his physical presence And what can the church of the 21st century learn from the earliest Christian communities Last Sunday rsquo s reading from John rsquo s Gospel suggested th
Posted inFaith, The Word
The effects of an “Easter faith”
The phrase “Easter faith” refers to the conviction that Jesus who was dead has been raised and thus has brought about the victory of life over death.
Posted inThe Word
The Call of the Good Shepherd
The fundamental question of the Easter season is How does the movement begun by the earthly Jesus continue after his resurrection Today rsquo s excerpt from Jesus rsquo discourse in John 10 known as the Good Shepherd discourse provides the beginning of an answer It reminds us that our personal
Posted inThe Word
Why Christianity Succeeded
Why did the early Christian movement succeed Why has it lasted for almost 2 000 years The most basic reason is the resurrection of Jesus Early Christians believed that God was at work in a definitive way in the life death and resurrection of Jesus They believed that through Jesus it had become
Posted inThe Word
The Pivotal Day
Easter is the pivotal day in the Christian calendar As Paul wrote ldquo If Christ has not been raised your faith is vain you are still in your sins rdquo 1 Cor 15 17 At the heart of Christian faith is the paschal mystery mdash Jesus rsquo life death and resurrection some 2 000 years ago
Posted inThe Word
The Best Example
The long and rich readings for Passion Palm Sunday usher us into Holy Week and prepare us for the Sacred Triduum and the celebration of Easter Sunday Each reading can contribute to our appreciation of Jesus rsquo sufferings and their significance for us nbsp The Old Testament passage from Isaia
Posted inThe Word
Three Great Lenten Themes
Three great themes run through the Sunday readings for Lent this year the exodus the justice and mercy of God and the paschal mystery the saving significance of Jesus rsquo death and resurrection This Sunday rsquo s readings develop and deepen those themes nbsp Today rsquo s Old Testament
Posted inThe Word
Repentance and Forgiveness
One of the most beloved parts of the Bible is the parable of the prodigal son In the context of Luke 15 it serves to explain why Jesus spent so much time and energy on ministering to such religiously marginal persons as tax collectors and sinners While the parable can be approached from many angle