Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, vanity of vanities! All things are vanity! What profit has man from all the labor which he toils at under the sun? One generation passes and another comes, but the world forever stays. Ecclesiastes 1: 1-4 In my first introduction to the Book of Ecclesiastes, I remember hearing its author…[read more]
Go and learn the meaning of the words, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” I did not come to call the righteous but sinners. Matthew 9:13 During the past year, Pope Francis called on all people to ponder the place of mercy in the revelation of Jesus and in our own lives. If, however, we…[read more]
The plans of the diligent are sure of profit,/ but all rash haste leads certainly to poverty. Proverbs 21: 5 Many years ago, a friend said to me: “John, you do everything fast.” His comment reminded me of my childhood. Each evening, after supper, my parents and I would wash the dishes together. Inevitably, after…[read more]
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”— when you already have it with you. Prov. 3:27-8 What is the source of so much violence, the death and destruction…[read more]
If our hope in Christ has been for this life only, we are the most unfortunate of people. 1 Cor 15:20 Recently I heard from a person struggling with drug addiction. Among his desperate assertions was: “My life is too far gone.” What do we mean when we speak of “my life”? Is it something…[read more]
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. John 19, 25 By the time that Jesus is crucified there remain “standing by” him only his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary Magdalene and the Beloved Disciple John. As the church celebrated yesterday the…[read more]
. . . and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2: 7-8 For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. John 3: 17 The cross of Jesus reminds…[read more]
When the Lord saw her, he felt compassion toward her. . . . They said, “A great prophet has been raised up among us!” and, “God has visited his people!” Luke 7: 13, 16 In his commentary on Luke’s singular account of the healing of the widow’s son, Luke Timothy Johnson notes the significance of…[read more]
When Jesus heard this, he marveled at him. He turned to the crowd that was following him. He said, “I tell you not even in Israel have I found faith like this!” Luke 7: 9 As we understand it, faith is so often a mark of our difference from each other, what discriminates one group…[read more]
Why do you spot the splinter in your brother’s eye, but not notice the log in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, “Brother, allow me to extract the splinter form your eye,” when you yourself don’t see the log in your eye? Hypocrite! First extract the log from your eye! Then…[read more]
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