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
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. Today’s post attempts to give you some background, content, and not overwhelm with arcane facts and details. Here is the big picture: The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah are two of the historical books of the Old Testament. They tell the story of the return of the Israelites from exile in Babylon and the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Lectionary Cycle A. Jesus has already entered Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1 ff) and been received by the people, proclaimed as Messiah, overturned the moneychanger’s tables (21:12-17), and had his authority questioned by the chief priests and elders. Jesus is performing signs and speaking in a way that the people are interpreting as Messianic – and there is a history there. Jesus is not the first messianic figure to come to Jerusalem and the chief priests and elders want to protect the people – although they have already concluded that Jesus is another false claimant. They have been amassing charges and accusations against Jesus and are simply waiting for the opportunity to bring him to trial and be done with him. Continue reading
The gospel for today is about the landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. Have you ever thought about the labors of the landowner? The landowner has a foreman who he calls upon to issue the pay at the end of the day. You’d think that part of the foreman’s job was to secure laborers for the harvest. Maybe so, but in this parable of the Kingdom of Heaven, it is the landowner who labors first and most fundamentally throughout the parable. Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time. One of the things to appreciate about the gospels and their content within is to remember that Sacred Scripture is the Word of God, committed to writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, using the powers and abilities of people. Continue reading
In today’s first reading we are warned against “a morbid disposition for arguments and verbal disputes. From these come envy, rivalry, insults, evil suspicions, and mutual friction among people with corrupted minds.” (1 Tim 6:4-5) When you hear those words again, what comes to mind? Do you view yourself as someone who values the importance of maintaining peaceful and constructive interactions with others? Do you like a good, lively, robust debate? Of course there is “lively” and there is “lively.” Continue reading
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