Daily Archives: April 3, 2025

Commercial Shipping

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What does a priest do in his spare time? Perhaps the first question is whether I have any free time. Of course – life balance is as important for a priest as it is for any person. One of the “in my spare time” efforts is this blog now in its 14th year and with over 5,600 posts… I started out slow, but have picked up momentum. I also watch YouTube in order to keep up with World Tour Pro Cycling (Tour de France, Paris-Roubaix, Milan San Remo, and etc…), the world of competitive swimming (NCAA, Olympics, etc.), and my nerd channel – “What’s Going on with Shipping.”

According to its YouTube page: “What’s Going on With Shipping focuses on Maritime Industry Policy, and current events in the Maritime Sector, along with Maritime History. The channel features videos that examine the world’s merchant marines, the international maritime sector, current events in the maritime trade, and history.” The host of the channel/videos is Sal Mercogliano.

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The heavy lifting

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The first reading today from the Prophet Isaiah is a companion piece with yesterday’s first reading from Ezekiel. Both readings speak to a people in exile and both offer visions of restoration to the covenant people of God. Yesterday, Ezekiel offered a vision of living water flowing from the Temple to restore life to the land and the people. Today Isaiah offers a similar vision that the Lord “leads them and guides them beside springs of water. I will cut a road through all my mountains, and make my highways level.” (Isaiah 49:10-12) Isaiah reminds the people that the Lord will never forget them.

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Jesus’ Response to the Leaders

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This coming Sunday is the 5th Sunday in Lent and our gospel is the “women caught in adultery.” When Jesus heard what the teachers of the law said, Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. There is no hint of why he wrote or what he wrote. One scholar offered that Jesus wrote out Ex 23:1 “You shall not repeat a false report. Do not join the wicked in putting your hand, as an unjust witness, upon anyone.”  Another suggested: “O Lord, the hope of Israel, …those who turn away from you shall be written in the earth, for they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living water.” (Jer 17:13 ESV)  The suggestion is that “written in the earth” is the polar opposite of being written in the book of life (Ex 32:32; Dan 12:1).  But already mentioned, there is no hint of why he wrote or what he wrote. 

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