There are posts that I publish which “upsets the apple cart” so to speak. For example, a post where I show that St. Francis did not write the “Peace Prayer of St. Francis” or dispute various quotes attributed to St. Francis but words he never said. This might be one of those posts. Continue reading
I promise – this is the last background post….This coming Sunday is the Solemnity of Christ the King. It is probably right to read “least brothers” as a description of disciples. But to draw that conclusion does not establish that the “sheep” are commended because their treatment of disciples reveals their positive attitude to Jesus himself. For the striking feature of this judgment scene is that both sheep and goats claim that they did not know that their actions were directed toward Jesus. Each is as surprised as the other to find their actions interpreted in that light. They have helped, or failed to help, not a Jesus recognized in his representatives, but a Jesus incognito. As far as they were concerned, it was simply an act of kindness to a fellow human being in need, not an expression of their attitude to Jesus. They seem closer to what some modern theologians call “anonymous Christians” than to openly declared supporters of Jesus himself. Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the Solemnity of Christ the King. This passage from Matthew is particularly dense with OT references, uses language that has already appeared in earlier Matthean verses (thus already having a contextual meaning), and because of its eschatological setting, invites comparison with other sacred writers, especially, St. Paul. Hence a bit more “context” is needed, or better said, background. Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the Solemnity of Christ the King. Brian Stoffregen, a Lutheran Pastor, writes that he has a love/hate relationship with this gospel:
“I hate it, because it seems to make works the requirement for being blessed by God. There is no mention of faith or justification or forgiveness or the cross — the acts of God that bring us salvation. Rather, the text is all about human actions.” Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the Solemnity of Christ the King, Lectionary Cycle A. The gospel readings for the 29th through 31st Sundays in Lectionary Cycle A all describe a series of confrontations between Jesus and religious authorities of Jerusalem, namely the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 22 and 23). While not a part of Ordinary Time readings, Chapter 24 continues this theme of imminent destruction and coming tribulation (Mt 24:1-28). It is at this point that we turn the page to Matthew 25. It is here in Matthew 25 that we will finish the final three Sundays of this cycle of Ordinary Time: Continue reading
The amygdala is a part of the brain, no larger than an almond. It is the center of our fear response. Such a little thing that can control so much of our life and our choices. St. Irenaeus remarked that the glory of God is the human person fully alive. Amazing! Yet perplexing is that something as small as an almond can keep us from being fully alive and radiating God’s glory into the world. Continue reading
I am grateful for a day in which we, as a people, pause to give thanks. And who do we have to thank for this holiday? Your answer is likely “The Pilgrims.” You would not be wrong, but then not completely correct, either. Certainly, Thanksgiving and the religious response of giving thanks to God is as old as time. When one considers enduring cultures, one always finds men and women working out their relationship to God. There is almost always a fourfold purpose to our acts of worship: adoration, petition, atonement, thanksgiving. Such worship is part and parcel of life. And yet, there is still a very human need to specially celebrate and offer thanksgiving on key occasions and anniversaries. Since medieval times, we have very detailed records of celebrations marking the end of an epidemic, liberation from sure and certain doom, the signing of a peace treaty, and more. Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. Our gospel is the Parable of the Talents: 28 Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. 29 For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ Continue reading
The good folks at Merriam-Webster posted a list of words whose original meaning has morphed into something else, leaving us with an allusion that is obsolete while the word itself is still in use. For example, the expression “hang up.” For eons our parents have told us to “hang up” our clothes/coats. Often that meant to hang the coat on a wall mounted hook. Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. Our gospel is the Parable of the Talents: 24 Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; 25 so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.’ 26 His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? 27 Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Continue reading
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