“Father into your hands I commend my spirit.” After Jesus said this, he died. Luke 23.46 How can a man who is crucified be God’s messiah who comes to save people and bring them new life? Jesus, who dies the death of a criminal, isn’t even powerful enough to save himself. The first Christian preachers […]
Gospel Reflection for March 24, Palm/Passion Sunday Read More »
The topic of siblings usually provokes conversation. Siblings may consider some of us oldest children bossy even though parents might use the words dependable and responsible. Many of us have the wild or special-needs brother or sister who absorbs more attention than the rest. This is the one who wrecks the car or who gets
Which son are you? Read More »
My son, you are with me always, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice! This brother of yours was dead and lives again. He was lost and is found. Luke 15.31-32 In Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son, Luke holds up not only a model of conversion in
Gospel Reflection for March 10, 2013, 4th Sunday of Lent Read More »
Jesus tells a parable about a man who plants a fig tree in his orchard but finds no fruit after three years. The man tells the gardener to cut it down. The gardener said, “Sir, leave it one more year while I hoe around it and manure it. Perhaps then it will bear figs. If
Gospel Reflection for March 3, 3rd Sunday in Lent Read More »
The devil had been tempting Jesus in the desert. Jesus said, “Scripture says, ‘You shall not put the Holy One your God to the test.’” Luke 4.9 In their theological duel Jesus and his antagonist express two very different interpretations of the role and mission of the messiah. The devil tempts Jesus to display his
Gospel Reflection for February 17, 1st Sunday of Lent Read More »
Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Don’t be afraid. From now on you will be catching people instead of fish.” Luke 5.10 The miraculous catch of fish in Sunday’s gospel moves Peter to a confusing response, “Leave me Lord. I am a sinful man.” Why should someone tell a teacher to leave when he or she
Gospel Reflection for February 10, 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »
Jesus read, “The Spirit of God is upon me, for God has anointed me and sent me to proclaim good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty for captives, sight to the blind, release to prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the Lord. Luke 4.18-19 The prisoners make the list along with
Gospel Reflection for January 27, 2013, 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »
Jesus performed this first of his signs at Cana in Galilee. He revealed his glory and his disciples began to believe in him. John 2.11 Jesus, his mother, and disciples are at a wedding when Mary notices the wine has run out. Upon her request, Jesus turns six jars of water into an abundance of
Gospel Reflection for January 20, 2013, 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »
When Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit descended like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my son, my Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” Luke 3.21-22 By the time of John the Baptist in Israel’s history, people wonder where to look
Gospel Reflection for January 13, Baptism of the Lord Read More »
“My friend Darwin lives in the country. He’s a teacher, but sometimes wishes he were a farmer. Darwin says that once he was in a “visioning” workshop where the leader asked participants to close their eyes and imagine the happiest, most wonderful experience they could think of. What came to Darwin’s mind was the image
What does Epiphany mean to you? Read More »