Monthly Archives: November 2024

The Certain Sign

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This coming Sunday is the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. In the previous post we began to explore the meaning of the apocalyptic signs and symbols in this Olivet Discourse. Now, Jesus resumes his instruction and preparation of the disciples.

28 “Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, at the gates. 30 Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. Continue reading →

Promise Amidst Tribulation

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This coming Sunday is the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. In the previous post we set the background for the gospel known as the Olivet Discourse: the days during Holy Week, Jesus’ final preparation for the disciples, but also a message to the Christian community of Rome in the first century (60s) when they were undergoing their own persecutions and hearing the stories of war between Rome and Judah. Continue reading →

Talk of the end times

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This coming Sunday is the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. In Liturgical Year B, the first reading of the year, the 1st Sunday in Advent is Mark 13:32-37. The reading, in part, appears again at the end of the liturgical cycle of Year B – here on the 33rd Sunday when we proclaim Mark 13:24-34. Our gospel reading is the end piece of the larger “Olivet Discourse” in Mark 13:1-37. In the Gospel of Mark there is no passage more problematic than the prophetic discourse of Jesus on the destruction of the Temple. Continue reading →

Called to notice

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Our gospel is known as the story of the Widow’s Mite. As you just heard, a widow donates two small coins, while wealthy people donate much more. A common explanation of the story is that Jesus praises the poor widow and holds her up as an example to us all because she gave “her whole livelihood.” So even though the rich people gave more, it was just for show and only from their chump change. Not the widow, she is “all in” in what she gives to God. The moral of the story is that small sacrifices of the poor mean more to God than the extravagant donations of the rich. And so, I could have a seat at this point, leave you to think about your weekly offering, your Annual Appeal pledge… are you giving chump change, or are your contributing your whole livelihood? I could but there is more here than meets the eye. Continue reading →

The Mother Church

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Today is the Feast Day of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome. The Lateran Basilica in Rome is not the oldest church in Rome – that honor seems to belong Santi Quattro Coronati (314); but then that depends on what sources you believe. Old St. Peter’s, the original church on the spot where the current St. Peter’s stands dates to 324, the same year as St. Lorenzo and St. John Lateran.  While many people think that St. Peter’s is the “home church” of the Pope, in fact, the Lateran Basilica is the Cathedral of the Diocese of Rome – the place from where the Bishop of Rome, Pope Francis, leads his diocese even as he leads the church universal. Continue reading →

The Widowed Prophet

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This coming Sunday is the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, the story of “The Widow’s Mite.” Today’s post is from a writer, Debie Thomas, whose work I always enjoy and find insightful. The words of this post are entirely hers. Enjoy.

“The Widow’s Mite” is a classic Gospel story — a go-to for churches during Stewardship Season. Who hasn’t heard the moving account of the widow who slips quietly into the Temple, drops her meager offering into the treasury, and slips away? Who hasn’t squirmed when a well-meaning pastor saddles the story to its inevitable “so what?” question: “If a poor widow can give her sacrificial bit for the Lord’s work, how can we — so comfortably wealthy by comparison — not give much, much more?” Continue reading →

The world as it is

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This story about the “dishonest steward” follows immediately after St. Luke’s telling of the Prodigal Son in which the young man wastes wealth and opportunity, but comes to his senses, returns home and is restored to the family. The dishonest steward is one who wastes his position and opportunity, comes to his senses and works to restore his future from his pending dismissal. Did Luke intentionally put these two stories back-to-back? Hard to know. I will tell you that the parable of the dishonest steward is one of the most debated parables among scripture scholars. So, if you are hoping that I will unravel the wisdom and mystery of this parable for you … well, that would be a long wait for a train don’t come. But I will give it a go. Continue reading →

The Poor Widow and Jesus

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This coming Sunday is the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, the story of “The Widow’s Mite.”   41 He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. 43 Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, ‘Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. 44 For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.’ Continue reading →

Choices

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In today’s gospel we are given a hard message about the seriousness of the choices we must make if we are to follow Jesus: “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters,and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” Let us set the stage for what leads to Jesus saying this to his disciples here in Luke 14:26

In Luke 14:7, Jesus begins: “He told a parable to those who had been invited, noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table.” He describes the scene in which people strive for places of honor and then instructs the listeners on the meaning of true humility, adding that they will receive their reward “at the resurrection of the righteous.” (v. 14b) Continue reading →