God sent his only Son, not to condemn but to save us.
And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”
Not just with words
If we use our Bible well, we have a rich resource of guidance for every occasion. But it’s not just knowing the words that matters. From them we might muster a nice verbal response and wrap a mantle of piety about our motives and so feel smug and self-righteous. But..
Two commandments into one
In the gospels the scribes or lawyers are generally portrayed as in conflict with Jesus . In today’s gospel, however, Jesus and a Jewish scribe are very much of the same mind. Jesus says to this particular scribe, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” Both are agreed on what..
Seeking what is right
Seeking basic human virtue — like compassion, forgiveness, prayer, understanding, loyalty, loving affection — makes the difference between heaven and hell, life and death. Jeremiah expressed this very clearly: “Only if you reform your ways and your deeds…will I [the Lord, your God] remain with you.”…
Banking on Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy says that laws do not exist for their own sake, but to help us show faithfulness to God. This fifth book of the Bible is not so much a “second law” (the Greek “Deutero” means 2nd) but a series of fervent motivational homilies…
Making a fresh start
The destruction of Israel’s life, as described in the book of Daniel, is devastating. “We have in our day no prince, prophet or leader, no sacrifice, oblation or incense, no place to offer first fruits, to find favour with you.” All had gone up in flames!..
Not a narrow-minded God
Jesus challenges the rather narrow view that his townspeople of Nazareth had of God. Just as they felt that Jesus belonged to them..
The Lord has the message of eternal life: in Lent we come to know this message and deepen our relationship with the Saviour of the world.
Moving House: One of the benefits derived from this unwelcome exercise is getting rid of all the junk accumulated since our last move. It could perhaps be argued that people’s dread of moving is directly proportionate to the amount of stuff they have gathered…
There’s always Hope.. Today’s parable tells of an inheritance, “squandered … on dissolute living.” But the prodigal son hopes that the Father will somehow take him back. The Micah passage also talks about hope. The people of Judah have been “trampled underfoot,” and driven off to a foreign land…
Providence at work.. The story of Jacob’s sons is told in detail (Gen 37-50) to conclude the book of Genesis. It has one overriding motif found at the end in Joseph’s words to his brothers: “Even though you meant harm to me, God meant it for good, to achieve his purpose, the survival of many ” (50:19-20). Mysteriously yet powerfully God can bring a convoluted, mixed-up and even misguided life to a positive end..
In spite of appearances Jeremiah was bearing fruit, and Lazarus kept his integrity even though sitting with dogs and begging for crumbs at Dives’ door! Destitution can destroy one’s confidence and self-respect, but in principle it can and does coexist with inner peace and strength. The beggar can be nearer to God than the banker, the cardinal, the CEO or the government minister…
Drinking from his cup.. Jesus asks James and John, “Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?” He was asking them if they were prepared to share his cup, to throw in their lot with him, to follow where he leads, even though it may mean the cross. In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed..
Burdens.. Jesus refers to the Pharisees as those who tie up heavy burdens and lay them on people’s shoulders. Rather than imposing unnecessary burdens on others, our calling is to help carry each other’s burdens, to make life less burdensome for each other…
Confessing to God: This public confession on the part of the people of Israel is one that we, the church, can make our own. We know that we too have failed, as individuals and as a community. Yet, it is to such individuals and to such a community that the Lord issues the invitation in today’s gospel, “Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate.” Jesus is calling on us to be nothing less than God-like…
As we continue to celebrate Lent, it’s important that we keep the goal of our journey before us. The gospel of the transfiguration is read on this lenten Sunday each year, to remind us to hold firm to a vision of glory, on dark days. Easter and its joy will follow this season of penance, just as the resurrection followed the passion and death of Jesus.
What must be cast aside? The story of Abraham and Isaac is full of high drama. The demand that Isaac be sacrificed seemed to utterly contradict God’s promise that the boy would pass on Abraham’s line into the distant future. It was a radical trial of faith, and no greater test of obedience could be set. Abraham’s heart was pierced by the boy’s innocent question, “Where is the lamb for the burnt offering?..
