This coming Sunday is the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time: 31 Which of the two did his father’s will?” They answered, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. Continue reading
As you know (…or don’t know), September 19th was “Talk Like a Pirate Day.” While you may have missed the celebration this year – largely consisting of talking like a pirate throughout the course of the day – it is not too late to begin training for next year’s celebration. To that end, this particular post is offering you a short lesson in the key phrases and their etymology. Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time. This parable is about doing the will of God (v. 31). The question, “What is God’s will for my life?” is one that Christians often ask. However, answering that question with an unreflective “obeying God and working in the fields” too easily leads to an idea that one is able to work/earn one’s salvation. But then again, relying on faith alone can reduce action to a meaningless afterthought to one’s words. Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time. On a more technical note, the answer to the question depends on the text you read. There is considerable variation in the manuscripts (MSS) and other older texts for the form of the parable and the subsequent answer to Jesus’ question. Continue reading
The first readings for the beginning of this week are taken from the Book of Ezra – a book that might not be familiar to you. Here is “the big picture”: The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah are two of the historical books of the Old Testament that tell the story of the return of the Israelites from exile in Babylon and the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. The Book of Ezra begins with the decree of Cyrus the Great, king of Persia, allowing the Israelites to return to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon and rebuild the temple. While the Temple was dedicated in 516 BC, religious reforms were another matter. Ezra was not with the original returnees. He arrived in Jerusalem in 458 BC some 80 years after the decree of Cyrus the Great. Continue reading
With all apologies to all the great Uncle Bobs out there, growing up in my family we did not talk about “Uncle Bob.” In fact I think I was 12 before I knew I had an Uncle Bob. His story, a sad one indeed, is for another time. But what made me think of those hidden family stories was today’s “Word of the Day” from Merriam Webster: nepotism. Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time: 28 “What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 He said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards he changed his mind and went. 30 The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go. 31 Which of the two did his father’s will?” Continue reading
In yesterday’s first reading we read that King Cyrus of Persia has freed the Israelites from captivity in Babylon, allowing them to return to Jerusalem along with all the sacred items taken from the Temple in Jerusalem some 40 years prior. Their instructions were to rebuild the Temple and worship God in their tradition. Continue reading
There was an interesting article in this morning’s news on mass mailing (a.k.a. junk mail) – its history, volume, rationale and the US Post Office’s dependence upon on it. But what was most interesting to me was a description of the means to stop the a great deal of junk mail. The article (I tried to stop my junk mail forever) was written by Michael J. Coren and appeared in the Washington Post. Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time. The texts leading up to and out of our gospel are replete with questions of authority. These events all occur in what we know as Holy Week and even though Jesus had triumphantly entered the City of David, Jesus had left Jerusalem for a brief stay in Bethany. He has now returned to the Temple area where, when he left the day before, the chief priests and scribes were angry with him (cleansing of the Temple, vv.12-17.) Given the deeds of the previous day, it seems only natural that the chief priests and the elders would ask about his credentials and question his authority. Continue reading
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