REFLECTIONS TODAY In response to Jesus’ prohibition of divorce, his disciples remark, “If that is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” Instead of discussing further the pros and cons of marriage, Jesus directs their attention to another level: to renounce marriage for...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The parable of the Unforgiving Servant illustrates why we are asked by Jesus to forgive “seventy-seven times” those who have wronged us. The number is limitless, probably a contrast to the limitless vengeance of Lamech (Gn 4:24). The reason is that God, as symbolized by the...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Chapter 18 of Matthew is often called “Community Discourse” or “Church Book.” Here, the evangelist gathers Jesus’ teachings on how his disciples are to live and deal with each other as a community. They should have the humility of a child, and care for each other,...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Jesus takes his parables from the workings of nature and the ordinary activities of men and women. In view of the mystery of his coming death, he sketches out the paradox of life through death using the image of the grain of wheat. When the farmer sows, the grain is “buried”...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The “kings of the earth” levy taxes to support the government and their royal lifestyle. Taxes are levied against land, homes, and other real estate, slaves, animals, personal items, and monetary wealth. Rome exacted taxes from its citizens, but most especially from...
JOHN 6:41-51 The Jews murmured about Jesus because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven,” and they said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother? Then how can he say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” Jesus answered and said to them,...
REFLECTIONS TODAY When a man approaches Jesus to cure his son possessed by a demon because Jesus’ disciples could not drive the demon out, Jesus reproaches the “faithless and perverse generation.” To whom is the reproach addressed? It can be addressed to the unbelievers among the Jewish...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The divine glory is often pictured in the Bible by the color and quality of the garments. In a vision, Daniel saw the Ancient One—the LORD—seated on his throne: “His clothing was snow bright, and the hair on his head as white as wool” (Dn 7:9). In the transfiguration on...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Jesus’ disciples ask him to send the woman away; she has nothing to do with them, nor they with her. In telling her that he is for “Israel only,” Jesus probably implies that she better go to the prophets of Baal, the Canaanite god, to petition Baal to cure her daughter....
REFLECTIONS TODAY Jesus’ power over the waves recalls the power of God against the pursuing army of Pharaoh during the exodus from Egypt. Again, God will lead his people in the new exodus, protecting them in their journey home to the land he gave to Abraham and his descendants: “When you pass...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee, had John the Baptist imprisoned and later beheaded at the instigation of Herodias who sent her daughter to dance for Herod and his guests — something below the dignity of a royal princess (Mt 14:3-12). But nothing is beyond the hatred of a...
REFLECTIONS TODAY JOHN 6:24-35 When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus. And when they found him across the sea they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” Jesus answered them and said,...
