REFLECTIONS TODAY Ancient kingdoms often had “guardians” placed on the gates of their cities or temples. These took the form of winged beasts, with the head of bearded sphinx. For believers, angels are “ministering spirits sent to serve, for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation”...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Jesus has been many things to many people. He is seen by some people as John the Baptist raised from the dead. Others have mistaken him for the fiery prophet Elijah, while others have thought of him as one of the proph-ets of old. Herod the tetrarch has also heard of Jesus, and...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Simon the Pharisee hedges his bet on Jesus, albeit cautiously. In case Jesus turns out to be a real man of God, he can say that Jesus was a guest of his household once upon a time. On the other hand, if Jesus later proves to be unacceptable to the religious hierarchy, Simon can...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Loving one’s enemies goes against the grain, so to speak. It is well-nigh unnatural and almost humanly impossible, especially for the Jews in Jesus’ time who lived under the oppressive domination of the Romans. It persists to be very difficult even in our own situation and...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Slavery was common in the ancient world. In worst cases, the slaves were treated as chattels, to be sold or abused at their master’s whims. In Israel, the elites had servants/ slaves (Greek douloi) who were employed in agriculture, but most often in domestic service. A slave...
REFLECTIONS TODAY We can draw important lessons from the parable of the Wedding Feast. One is that everyone is welcome to the feast. The king in the parable sends his servants to summon first the invited guests and then whoever they can find. He wants his banquet, he wants heaven, to be full....
REFLECTIONS TODAY It was common practice among the Jews to forgive three times. So Peter is going all out to double and add one, asking if we are expected to forgive seven times. Seven is the biblical number for perfection. But Jesus raises consciousness beyond the “seventy-seven times”...
REFLECTIONS TODAY “Rock” (Aramaic kēpã and transliterated into Greek as Kephas) is a symbol of strength and permanence and a place where people in danger would often take refuge. God is thus depicted as the Rock of Israel, being the strength, security, and deliverance of his people. The...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The last parable about the Kingdom in chapter 13 of Matthew also points to the last human reality: the Last Judgment. The parable of the Fishing Net (Greek sagēne) reflects the practice of Galilean fishermen who, upon hauling their catch, sit down to separate their catch. What...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Jesus focuses on the receptivity of the hearers of God’s word. The Kingdom of heaven is a precious gift that is given to everyone, but its power to change lives depends also on the dispositions of the hearers. When the Word of God is received with faith, it takes root into the...
REFLECTIONS TODAY There are many differences between childish and childlike attitudes. “Childish” behavior is seen in an adult who acts annoyingly and immaturely, incommensurate with his or her age, with self-centered, petulant, irresponsible, and reckless conduct. “Childlikeness,” on the...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The Twelve disciples are now referred to as “Apostles” as Jesus sends them to preach the coming of the Kingdom of God. They are given the authority to cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons—signs that the Kingdom of God has come upon people. These...
