Reflections

The second chapter of Mathew’s Eschatological Discourse consists of three long parables, all of which are familiar to us. They have the common theme of preparation for the final coming of the Lord, whenever that will be. Yesterday’s reading (Matthew 25:1-13) was the parable about the wise and foolish bridesmaids. The story likely reflects common […]

Sometimes it is hard to keep the people, places and events in the Scriptures straight.  Was it the prophet Elijah that did such-and-such or was it his student, the prophet Elisha?  Was it Elijah that raised from the dead the son of Zarephath’s widow?  Was it Elisha who raised from the dead the Shunammite Woman’s

Doctor of the Church (354-430) Augustine was born in 354 in Tagaste, a modest Roman community in a river valley 40 miles (64 km) from the Mediterranean coast in Africa, near the point where the veneer of Roman civilization thinned out in the highlands of Numidia (present day Algeria).  Augustine’s parents, Patricius and St. Monica (discussed

(c. 330-387) The circumstances of Saint Monica’s life could have made her a nagging wife, a bitter daughter-in-law, and a despairing parent, yet she did not give way to any of these temptations. Although she was a Christian, her parents gave her in marriage to a pagan, Patricius, who lived in her hometown of Tagaste

We have been reading from the Old Testament for the past nine weeks.  We began with the 12th chapter of the book of Genesis and went through selected passages from each of the first eight books of the Bible in order: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges and Ruth. Today we go back to

In our First Reading today (Joshua 24:1-2, 15-18) we hear various verses from the last Chapter of the Book of Joshua. It is an historical moment in several ways. Joshua is one hundred and ten years old and his battles for the people of Israel are done.  He gathers all the people together on an

Feast August 24 Today is the Feast of St. Bartholomew, Apostle. According to three of the Gospels, his name was Bartholomew, but St. John calls him Nathanael.  By whatever name we call him, we do not know much about Bartholomew.  The First Reading (Revelation 21:9-14) focuses on the role of the Apostles as the foundation

Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones (Ezekiel 37:1-14) is one of my favorite stories in Scripture.  The vividness of its imagery, the wonder of its unfolding narrative, and visceral appeal of its symbolism endow it with a sort of “plug-and-play” appeal–even an uninitiated reader can engage with this wonderful story. Yet the story

Jesus is such a great teacher. His parables draw us in, have surprising elements and stunning lessons at the end. Jesus was well aware of Ezekiel’s preaching during the Exile that we have been hearing for the past few weeks. Ezekiel was full of promise. The remnant left behind in a destroyed Jerusalem needed hope.

In today’s Old Testament Reading (Ezekiel 34:1-11), Ezekiel indicts Israel’s leaders (the shepherds) for their failure to care for the nation (the flock). In Ezekiel’s time, Israel’s leaders oppressed the people by looking only to their own interests by clothing and feeding themselves at the expense of the needs of the flock. Instead of strengthening