REFLECTIONS TODAY Scriptures show an ambivalent attitude toward wealth. At times it was praised and admired—as the fruit of wisdom (Prv 10:4), or the reward of humility and fear of God (Prv 10:22). More frequently, however, wealth was viewed unfavorably. The man who trusts in his wealth rather...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Lk 6:39-45 Jesus told his disciples a parable, “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s...
REFLECTIONS TODAY From the question of divorce conceded because of Israel’s “hardness of heart,” attention is now focused on the children brought to Jesus. The children symbolize receptivity that marks those that enter the Kingdom of God. Still young to assume adult responsibility, they are...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The Pharisees approach Jesus to ask if divorce should be allowed, but touching only on the rights of a man to divorce his wife. In a manner of rabbinic debate, Jesus asks them about the command of Moses (the Torah). They reply that according to Moses, it is lawful for a man to...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Jesus often uses the image of a child or “little one” for one who accepts the Kingdom of heaven. To welcome the “little ones” is to exercise service and receptivity to those who are close to Jesus. To “cause them to sin” (Greek skandalisē) is to commit a most grievous...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today In the Book of Numbers, Eldad and Medad are described as having prophesied among the Israelites despite the fact that they were not in the gathering of 70 elders when Moses bestowed the spirit on them. Joshua asked Moses to stop them, but Moses reminded his...
REFLECTIONS TODAY A man from the crowd brings to Jesus his son who is suffering from epilepsy, an illness attributed to the possession by a dumb spirit. His initial desire was to bring the sick boy to Jesus, but in Jesus’ absence he brought the boy to the disciples who were unable to heal him....
REFLECTIONS TODAY Lk 6:27-38 Jesus said to his disciples: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today Jesus rejects the messianic glory expected by the people of Israel and embraces the destiny of the suffering Son of Man. He invites his would-be follower to do the same — to renounce one’s self, take up one’s cross, and lose one’s life for Jesus and the...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today Jesus’ power to heal is most often instantaneous. He can also heal from a distance, as in the case of the daughter of a Syrophoenician woman (Mk 7:29-30). A woman with a flow of blood is cured by mere touching of his clothes (Mk 5:28-29). But the healing of a...
REFLECTIONS TODAY LUKE 6:17, 20-26 Jesus came down with the Twelve and stood on a stretch of level ground with a great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon. And raising his eyes toward his disciples he said:...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today The Code of Holiness in Leviticus 19 prescribes various rules of conduct for the Israelites to become holy before the Lord. They observe the kosher or dietary laws that include what food may be eaten. Blood and certain animals and birds are “unclean” and may...
