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,...
REFLECTIONS TODAY A command during the Jubilee Year states, “Do not deal unfairly, then; but stand in fear of your God. I, the LORD, am your God” (Lv 25:17). This kind of fear is not the fear that Herod the tetrarch has. He is afraid of the people for killing John the Baptist whom they regarded...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Jesus’ townsmen in Nazareth ought to be proud of him and to feel honored by his presence. Instead, they oppose and belittle him. They think they know him too well to pass a fair judgment on him. They think that Jesus’ humble origins do not qualify him for the fame and acclaim...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Like most Jews, Martha believes in the resurrection of the dead. So when Jesus says that her brother Lazarus will rise, she answers, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” But the distant, unknown future is hardly a balm for her present sorrow. Thus Jesus...
REFLECTIONS TODAY When Moses comes down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the commandments, the Israelites noticed how radiant his face had become (Ex 34:30). Having had intimacy with God, the divine radiance is reflected on his face. The Israelites have then an experience of the...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Moses’ greatness flows from his intimacy with God. On entering the meeting tent, the Lord would speak to him face to face (Ex 33:11). At his death, he is given this accolade: “Since then no prophet has arisen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face. He had no...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Sirach praises Israel’s great ancestors in these words: “Their wealth remains in their families, their heritage with their descendants; through God’s covenant with them their family endures, their posterity for their sake. And for all time their progeny will endure…”...
REFLECTIONS TODAY When Moses relates to the Israelites the words and ordinances of the Lord, they enthusiastically reply, “We will do everything that the LORD has told us” (Ex 24:3). But the people will have to face the “weeds” that will prevent them from being faithful: dangers, idolatry,...
