The ministry of the Twelve is not confined to preaching, for the news that the reign of God is at hand is to be exemplified by curing the sick, raising the dead, healing lepers, expelling demons. Jesus adds that what they have freely received, they must freely give to others, in a complete sharing of gifts and talents. The true meaning of “the reign of God,” therefore, is seen in the generous relationships of daily life.
From all parts of the famine-stricken middle east, people flocked into Egypt to avoid starvation. Joseph’s brothers are among this stream of refugees, which suggests the mixed ancestry of the people that would eventually come out of Egypt under the name of Israel. In its very origin Israel had a universalist quality, and by their poverty and need the original Israelites are linked with people throughout the world.
What the gospel presents in summary style is treated at a more leisurely pace in a story from Genesis. Matthew overlooks the weary journeys, the mixed receptions, sometimes favourable and sometimes not, that Jesus met with. It is all stated quickly and simply: he continued his tour of all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the reign of God, and curing every sickness and disease. Once cured of sickness and disease,
Family and personal problems are the launching pad for religious growth, in today’s readings. The envy of his twin brother forced Jacob to flee for his life; and Jesus is confronted with a family tragedy, the death of the synagogue leader’s young daughter.
Jesus invites us to come to him and find rest from our burdens. Only those who become humble like a child can put themselves and their problems fully into God’s hands. Our Lord’s loving, gentle spirit is perfectly prophecied in Zechariah’s image of the royal figure right there among his people, humbly riding on a donkey. He is with us to help us, not to burden us with guilt.
The Church returns to Ordinary Time this Sunday, after the Lent & Easter season, and the great feasts that followed. Green vestments are worn once more, and a little of the Good News according to Matthew is shared each Sunday……
Several times Matthew tells how Jesus himself remained with the old – with “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:6), that he was not sent to foreigners, even to those who happened to show up in Palestine. Yet in the Sermon on the Mount (5-7), Matthew repeats Jesus’ new vision that perfects and replaces the old law, “You have heard the commandment… but now I say to you…” The change from
Deuteronomy 7:6-11. God’s fidelity to his chosen people, who are dear to his heart.
1 John 4: 7-16. Our loving God has poured his love into us, through his Son and the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 11:25-30. To know Jesus is our sure way to know and love our gracious Father.
The contrast between Abraham and the Pharisees is striking and baffling. Abraham is misguided in thinking that God wanted human sacrifice. The Pharisees are orthodox in their theology that only God can forgive sin yet they are misguided in limiting God’s power. It is clear that even good intentions (on Abraham’s part) and
In the biblical stories about the two main apostles, we see what deep faith can achieve in the life of generous persons. Today we pray for our present Church, that all may play our part in the life of faith. We get a glimpse of each of them in prison for the faith, prepared for martyrdom if necessary, in bearing witness to the Gospel. Then we have the great declaration of faith, as a result of which Jesus gives a special role of faith-affirmer to Peter, “the Rock” to help sustain the faith of others.
In face of natural disasters, such as earthquake and volcanic eruptions at Sodom and Gomorrah or a fierce storm on the Lake of Galilee, God saves those who trust in him and those for whom others pray. By Abraham’s prayer Lot, his wife and two daughters are led to safety by an angel; the disciples in the boat are amazed at Jesus’ power over the wind and the waves. However, if people persist in sinful behaviour, unwilling to give up living off others’ inhuman working conditions, then prophets
The Genesis story shows Abraham bargaining with God to have the wicked cities spared. He begins at fifty, asking God to spare the cities if fifty innocent people can be found there. He speaks up again, pleading for their survival if forty-five innocent are found. The haggling continues and Abraham gradually pares the number down
The Liturgy of Corpus Christi invites those who gather for Mass on this Sunday to reflect on God’s care for the family of faith, especially through the gift of divine nourishment on our pilgrimage through life.
God’s people in the desert were fed by miraculous provision of food and drink. Our heavenly Father continues to feed us with the body and blood of his Son, as celebrated in this feast of Corpus Christi. He continues to nourish us spiritually by this wonderful gift of the Real Presence, food for our souls, so that as Jesus declared, “whoever eats me will live because of me.”
Long before he fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy of the suffering servant by his death on the cross, Jesus had been living out the prophetic words by his daily responses to people. It seems he could not pass by a sick person, without being moved to compassion. The one asking for help might be a foreigner, even one of the despised Roman occupation
Laws are kept and laws are disregarded. When Jesus cured the man of some type of contagious skin disease , he reminded him, “See to it that you tell no one. Go and show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses preScribed. That should be the proof they need.” We can’t help wondering, couldn’t the priests get along without the
Abram and Sarah followed the custom of their time, when children were the surest way to secure human rights and dignity in one’s old age. After many years of marriage, they had no children, so in desperation, Sarah turned to the local custom that allowed a surrogate wife to bear her child. Yet once Hagar, the Egyptian maidservant, had conceived, she now scorned her mistress for being childless; and
When Jesus stated that a good tree is known by its good fruit, he was referring to the annual fruit harvest rather than to a single harvest, once for all time. At the same time he warned how some people could be misled, “Be on guard against false
Today’s texts manifest the age-old truth that success goes to the head, power corrupts and prosperity can make even good people greedy for more. It seems that in life we cope better with hopes than with their fulfillment. People who must work hard and pass through all the stages of developing a business, a farm, or a family
Abram’s call in Genesis 12 marks the beginning of Israel’s salvation history, the monumental moment when this rugged nomad was called to migrate to the land of promise and eventually become a sign of blessing for everyone on earth. But
