The Good Word

The second reading for the Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time Hebrews 4 14-16 continues directly from last week s second reading and confirms the point I made last week that the fact that Jesus Christ knows our innermost thoughts and all of our deeds is a warning to amend our ways surely but

An overarching point of Hebrews chapter four is that we are destined for a sabbath rest so then a sabbath rest still remains for the people of God for those who enter God s rest also cease from their labors as God did from his Hebrews 4 9-10 NRSV This is a heavenly image especially for a wo

The second reading for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time raises a couple of questions even prior to an examination of content One is the reading itself as presented in the lectionary which omits what seems to be a crucial phrase from verse 9 Two is how the reading fits in the context of the Old Tes

This Sunday rsquo s readings all work to deepen for us a common conundrum paradox or challenge relationality mdash how any of us is related with everything else The extraordinary reading from Genesis situates the original human as ldquo alone rdquo until it has named the animals and been config

nbsp Sunday s Gospel falls under the shadow of the second prediction of Jesus death and resurrection nbsp By writing in this way Mark nbsp wants the disciple of Jesus to look upon hardships and trials – the cross of the disciple – as things which should be understood to nbsp imitate both Jesus

The second reading for the 26th nbsp Sunday in Ordinary Time is another no-holds-barred passage from James 5 1-6 Come now you rich weep and wail over your impending miseries Your wealth has rotted away your clothes have become moth-eaten your gold and silver have corroded and that corrosion wil

The Gospel passage for the Feast of Saint Matthew is Matthew 9 9-13 As Jesus passed by he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post He said to him Follow me And he got up and followed him While he was at table in his house many tax collectors and sinners cameand sat with Jesus and his

nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Two observations are in order about this Gospel nbsp First we find the words of Jesus about service to others as the means to greatness in his Kingdom to be placed after the prediction of his passion and death and resurrection nbsp As we know Mark had a choice of mater

nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp This Gospel passage has for quite awhile now been recognized by scholars as a key nbsp pivotal moment nbsp of the entire Marcan Gospel nbsp The first 8 chapters have given all the indications to justify the estimates you are a prophet you are Elijah you are John the Ba

These readings emerge from our tradition and liturgy into a world that is filled with violence war torture rape with the devastations of the drug culture and consumerism poverty crime sexism racism lies accusations insults powerfully negative constructions of each other nbsp Our need t