REFLECTIONS TODAY The tetrarch Herod in today’s Gospel is Herod Antipas who was appointed by the Roman emperor Augustus to rule over Galilee and Perea at the death of his father Herod the Great. He divorced his first wife, the daughter of King Aretas of Nabatea, in favor of Herodias who had been...
REFLECTIONS TODAY In Galilee in Jesus’ time, the ruling elites (Herod Antipas and his cohorts) controlled fishing by the Sea of Tiberias. They sold fishing rights to the “brokers” (telonai, commonly translated as “publicans” or “tax collectors”) who, in turn, contracted with the...
REFLECTIONS TODAY In Scriptures, to “hear” (Hebrew shemah, Greek akouein) does not just mean to use one’s ear to perceive a message, but to pay attention that one may understand and obey. To “hear” and to “obey” go hand in hand, especially if what is communicated is the word of God or...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Luke, who addresses his Gospel mostly to Gentile believers, pictures a Hellenistic house with an entrance from which the light would shine on those entering. In Matthew, the lamp gives light rather to all who are in the house (5:15). In either case, the application is clear: a...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Luke 16:1-13 Jesus said to his disciples, “A rich man had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property. He summoned him and said, ‘What is this I hear about you? Prepare a full account of your stewardship, because you can no longer be my steward.’ The...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The sowing has many loses, but at the end it affords an abundant harvest, contrary to all expectations. This is a picture of Jesus’ work of ushering in the Kingdom. He meets many obstacles, but ultimately, he achieves success which far outweighs any failure. In the...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Jesus differs radically from the usual Jewish understanding of women’s role. The rabbis exclude women from their disciples. To them, the women seem incapable of studying the Law. On the contrary, Jesus cures women, associates with them, and includes them among his followers....
REFLECTIONS TODAY Mary, as Our Lady of Sorrows, is presented in John’s account as standing by the cross of Jesus on Calvary. Pope Francis presents her thus: “Without yielding to evasions or illusions, she accompanied the suffering of her Son; she supported him by her gaze and protected him with...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The message of the cross is shocking both to the Jews and Greeks. A crucified Messiah as God’s agent of reconciling a lost world is a bizarre message, not “good news.” The cross can only be “good news” if its meaning is completely overturned. This was shown in the...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The story, unique to Luke, complements the preceding miracle. After healing the slave of the pagan centurion, Jesus brings back to life the only son of a Jewish widow. Jesus is the Savior of all. No one is excluded from the salvation he offers — neither sinners considered as...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The centurion’s nationality is not clear, but he is certainly not Jewish. Since Galilee at this time was not a part of the Roman prov-ince, the centurion is probably a veteran who assists Herod Antipas in his police force modeled along Roman lines. As an officer representing...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Luke 15:1-10 Many public buildings have a corner called “Lost and Found.” It is a place where things that people have lost are stored and from which the owners may retrieve them. On occasions when people are packed together — i.e., during a visit to the cemetery on All...
