Today’s gospel is one that always needs 1st century context. Jesus has just been at synagogue where he cast out an unclean spirit from a man. Then we read, “After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon. Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever, and they interceded with him about her. He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and waited on them..” (Luke 4:38-39) Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time.“If your brother sins (against you)…” (Mt 18:15). Long (Matthew, Westminster Bible Commentary) begins his comments on this section with: “Matthew has no romantic illusions about the church. He knows that the church is not all sweet thoughts, endlessly patient saints, and cloudless skies. In Matthew’s church, people – no matter how committed – are still people, and stormy weather is always a possible forecast” [p. 209]. Our own practical experience with such things often leads us to sometimes see 18:15-29 as a guide to church leaders on disciplinary action. But vv. 15–17 are addressed to ‘you’ (singular), the individual disciple, and their concern is not with the punishment of an offense but with the attempt to rescue a ‘brother’ whose sin has put him in danger. The passage is thus a practical guide to how a disciple can imitate his Father’s concern for the wandering sheep (vv. 10–14). Continue reading
Want a to-do list for today? Today’s first reading from 1 Thess 5:11 has some great advice: “encourage one another and build one another up“. Sincere encouragement offers and number of benefits to the other: happiness, self confidence, resilience, and more. Offering encouragement doesn’t take a lot. It can be offered in words of praise, positive reinforcement, a verse from Scripture, or simply being there for someone when they need it. Would that we all would consistently do this for one another.
Image credit: Pexels
There is all kinds of counting going on in the Bible. Consider the Old Testament. The first five books of the Bible (Pentateuch) has counts of the entire population, of only the priestly groups, and of males eligible for the military, the number of Jacob’s family members who went to Egypt, of the Israelites who left Egypt, and of the exiles who returned to Judea. Counting was used for military and labor conscription and of course, the age old people’s favorite of taxation. The New Testament has some advice about counting. Luke 14 asks what person would not sit down and count the costs before undertaking a major building project. Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. In our previous post, it was noted that Matthew 18 is considered one of Jesus’ discourses. The focus is on instructions for the community of believers. Within such a community there is opportunity both to harm and to care for others, and the health and effectiveness of the group will depend on the attitudes to one another which are fostered. While our gospel reading is Matthew 18:15-20, consider the following passage as a prelude to our reading. Continue reading
In our gospel from today’s readings, we find a powerful and transformative moment in the life of Jesus. He has returned to his hometown of Nazareth, and on the Sabbath day, he enters the synagogue. As was custom, someone was asked to read. Jesus is handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolls it and begins to read: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” Continue reading
A question that challenges, perplexes, and perplexes. This morning you can take the short option or the longer option. The short option is brought to you by the comic strip Pearls before Swine. The longer option was generated by ChatGPT: Continue reading
Each year I am surprised that the Lectionary does not have specific, special readings for Labor Day. I know it is a secular holiday, but the Catholic Church has a long history of social teachings that emphasize the dignity of labor and the rights of workers. Those topics came up this week. There was a proposal this week from the Department of Labor that would require overtime pay for salaried positions whose earnings are under a certain threshold. Think of the shift manager at your favorite fast food restaurant. They manage the crew, are expected to work longer hours but since they are salaried, there is no additional pay. Why do it? The hope of increased wages and promotion. Meanwhile it is not uncommon for hourly workers to earn more than their managers. Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. The previous two Sundays have focused on the gospel narrative that is set at the site of Peter’s great confession of faith: Caesarea Philippi. This is also the place where Jesus’ first passion prediction occurs which leads to Peter’s exclamation: “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you” (16:22) – in effect denying the revealed nature and role of the messiah. Jesus corrects Peter in v.24: “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” Despite his confession of faith and the blessing in response to it, Peter initially rejects the possibility that Jesus’ messiahship could involve suffering. This leads to Jesus’ instruction to the disciples about the true nature of the cross and the willingness to carry it in accordance with the will of God. Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Lectionary Cycle A. Choosing readings for liturgy while taking into account the ebb and flow of liturgical seasons is an incredible undertaking that requires study and the blessing of Wisdom. The choices made sometimes leave unusual gaps in the narrative intended by the sacred author. The move from the 22nd to the 23rd Sunday is such a move. Consider the following flow: Continue reading
friarmusings 