Author name: Essjay Peatoo

A large part of today’s first reading (Hebrews 8:6-13) is taken up with a passage from the prophet Jeremiah, as confirmation of the writer’s argument about the superiority of the new covenant made through Jesus Christ.  The reading opens by stating that Jesus has obtained a better ministry than that of the Levitical priesthood and […]

Today’s first reading (Hebrews 7:25-8:6) shows again the contrast between the high priests of the Law and Christ, our new High Priest. The Hebrew Christians, to whom the Letter is addressed, are being reminded, once again, that Jesus Christ is far superior to the old Temple-based worship. In the two verses immediately preceding today’s reading,

Our First Readings this week are taken from St. Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews.  Today’s reading (Hebrews 7:1-3, 15-17) continues  to reflect on the meaning of Jesus Christ as our priest. Today’s reading speaks of Jesus being “in the order of Melchizedek” and discusses both the similarities and differences between the Old Testament figure and

God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name by having served and continuing to serve the holy ones. … So when God wanted to give the heirs of his promise an even clearer demonstration of the immutability of his purpose, he intervened with an

Today in the United States, some 96 years and 5 days after his birth on January 15, 1929, we celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  He was born in Atlanta, Georgia, the son of a Baptist minister.  King earned a doctorate degree in theology and in 1955 helped organize the first major

Today’s Old Testament Reading (Isaiah 62:1-5), at first glance, appears to be added at the end of the Book of the Prophet Isaiah as an afterthought.  It appears as if the copy editor of the Book of Consolation, (Isaiah chapters 40-55) picked this poem off the Editorial Room floor, read it, and decided that at

Several themes are woven into the readings for today. Why is faith important to experiencing God’s presence in our lives?   Why do the Scribes and Pharisees have problems believing in Jesus.  Can the faith of our friends help us even when our own faith is weak? And what is this “eternal rest” that we

Several themes are woven into the readings for today. Why is faith important to experiencing God’s presence in our lives?   Why do the Scribes and Pharisees have problems believing in Jesus.  Can the faith of our friends help us even when our own faith is weak? And what is this “eternal rest” that we

In today’s readings, we hear again about Jesus retreating to a “deserted place” in order to be closer to God the Father.  The Letter to Hebrews (Hebrews 3:7-14) addresses Jewish Christians reminding them that they, too, have gone through a desert experience.  They, like their ancestors, are going through changes in their lives.  They have

In today’s Gospel (Mark 1:29-39), Jesus enters Peter’s home and immediately heals his mother-in-law, who was seriously ill to the point of death. Peter already had witnessed some of Christ’s miracles, but THIS healing, under HIS own roof, of a member of HIS own family, moves him deeply. Not only is she completely restored, but