Monthly Archives: August 2023

Different Layers

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“And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.” In the telling of the gospel, as amazing as the story is, neither we nor the disciples should be surprised. The entire arc of Matthew’s gospel points to this moment. Consider that the transfiguration story recalls the baptism of Jesus when the voice from heaven called out: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”  We hear those exact words again today: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” Continue reading →

That 70s thing…

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This morning I had to opportunity to swim at the Rouse Center in Stafford. While churning away the yards in the competition pool, nearby in the recreation pool the Water Exercise program churned away to what seemed to be the greatest hits of the 1970s… at least if the tunes were all in the bopping range with sufficient beats per minute. The BeeGees “Staying Alive” is a regular feature, clocking in at 105 bpm. Donna Summer’s “Hot Stuff” is also a regular at 123 bpm. In case you’re wondering, I only hear all this during rest between sets. So far I have avoided ear worms. Continue reading →

Assumptions

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The gospel passage Matthew 13:54-58 offers a profound reflection on the nature of assumptions and the limitations they impose on our understanding and beliefs. In this passage, Jesus returns to his hometown, and the people there are astonished by his wisdom and miraculous works. However, instead of embracing him as the Messiah, they respond with skepticism and disbelief, saying, “Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds?”  After all, wasn’t he just the son of a carpenter? They knew his family. At this point, perhaps it is an honest question? Maybe for some, but we finally read, “And they took offense at him.” Continue reading →

John and Elijah

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In yesterday’s post we considered Peter’s response of offering to make three tents – one for Jesus as well as Moses and Elijah. Today, we listen to Jesus’ instructions to the disciples as well as his probing for their understanding of what they have just seen: “As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, “Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” Then the disciples asked him, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”  Continue reading →

The Tent of Meeting

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In the first reading today (from Exodus 40) we hear of the “Dwelling” or the “tent of meeting” also known as the Tabernacle. It was a “portable” sanctuary used by the Israelites during their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness – portable in the way a large meeting tent can be erected, taken down and transported. It was not a small tent. It is detailed extensively in the Book of Exodus: Continue reading →

The City of Angels

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I think most people know that the expression, “City of Angels”, refers to Los Angeles, CA. But did you know that the name is only the shortened form of the original city name, which grew up around one of the Franciscan missions? The original name of the pioneer town was, “El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles de Porciúncula,” (in English, “City of Our Lady the Queen of Angels of the little Portion”). Both “Our Lady Queen of the Angels” and “the little Portion” are steeped in the earliest history of the Franciscan Order. For that we return to the 13th century and the life of St. Francis of Assisi. Continue reading →