REFLECTIONS TODAY Today’s Gospel concludes Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5-7). Here Jesus is presented as a “lawgiver” like Moses and as a “wisdom teacher.” In the perspective of Matthew, Jesus brings from the storeroom of Israel the old treasures with which he combines the new things...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today According to the Synoptics, Andrew is one of the first four to be called by the Lord; he is the brother of Simon Peter. Like Simon, he was a fisherman. The Gospel of John indicates that he was first a disciple of John the Baptist, the Protokletos, the “first...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today The centurion is an official of the Roman army in command of 100 or more soldiers. He is trained in army discipline; he knows the value of a word of command. He follows the order of a higher official and expects soldiers under him to obey his orders. Now, he...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today LUKE 21:25-28, 34-36 Jesus said to his disciples: “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today Jesus ends his apocalyptic discourse with the sign of hope in the budding of the fig tree (Lk 21:29-31). He then calls for vigilance and watchfulness. This does not mean that one continually looks up the sky waiting to be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today One apocalyptic sign of the end of the world order is the war among nations and kingdoms. And Jesus includes here the great tribulation that would fall on the city of Jerusalem. He has already wept over this city, for it did not know what makes for peace (Lk...
REFLECTIONS TODAY One tribulation that will mark the “end” is the coming persecution of Jesus’ disciples. But the disciples are not to worry about their defense; they are assured of God’s help and protection when they are brought to trial because of their faith. Luke, who writes of the...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today In a certain way, the predictions of Jesus have already occurred for Luke’s readers. Wars and insurrections, famines and plagues occurred during the Jewish revolt. Jesus’ apostles and disciples had to face kings and governors on account of Jesus’ name, as...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today Her whole livelihood In today’s Gospel, Jesus presents a widow not as a receiver but as a giver, as a protagonist. In the “Court of Women” in the Jerusalem Temple, people drop their money for the temple treasury. The widow drops two coins, the equivalent of...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today JOHN 18:33b-37 Pilate said to Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?” Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me....
REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today The Sadducees were perhaps the next most famous group—after the Pharisees—that came into conflict with Jesus. Jesus certainly would have been closer to the Pharisees than to the Sadducees in terms of what they believed. Their rejection...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today In driving out the merchants in the temple, Jesus is moved by two prophetic oracles. The first is from Isaiah: “For my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples” (56:7). Trito-Isaiah foresaw the day when God would gather the dispersed children...
