Sunday’s Readings: Jeremiah 20:7-9; Psalms 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9; Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 16:21-27 THE CROSS OF JESUS The perception of a cross changed dramatically after Jesus’ crucifixion. Before that event, death on a cross was not only horrible, it was degrading. It was a penalty reserved only for the most wretched of criminals. The word “glory”…
Sunday’s Readings: Isaiah 22:19-23; Psalms 138:1-2, 2-3, 6, 8; Romans 11:33-36; Matthew 16:13-20 TRUSTKeys hold great significance for those who carry them. They represent the trust and authority of the owner when given to another person. We may give our house key to a trusted friend to take care of our matters while we are away.…
Sunday’s Readings: Isaiah 56:1, 6-7; Psalms 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Romans 11:13-15, 29-32; Matthew 15:21-28 WHY PRAY? The “foreigners” as Isaiah calls them, the “Gentiles” as Paul calls them, or the “Canaanites” as Matthew calls them are called to worship the one true God in prayer. As we listen to today’s readings, perhaps we are tempted…
Sunday’s Readings: 1 Kings 19:9A, 11-13A; Psalms 85:9, 10, 11-12, 13-14; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:22-33 THE PRESENCE OF GOD After the miracle of Jesus walking on water, the disciples exclaimed, “Truly, you are the Son of God” (Matthew 14:33). Most Christians will probably never experience such a dramatic miracle. Like Elijah, we await the manifestation of…
Sunday’s Readings: Isaiah 55:1-3, Psalms 145:8-9, 15-16, 17-18; Romans 8:35, 37-39; Matthew 14:13-21 OUR DEEPEST NEEDS The word of God serves up a tremendous feast for us today. Isaiah beckons all who hunger and thirst to come to the Lord for satisfaction. The psalmist cries out, “The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs” (Psalm…
Sunday’s Readings: 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12; Psalms 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-128, 129-130; Romans 8:28-30; Matthew 13:44-52 A SHARE IN GOD’S KINGDOMToday concludes a three-week series of Gospel texts in which we have listened to a total of seven parables about the Kingdom. The believer is asked to consider the request that God made of Solomon in today’s first reading:…
Sunday’s Readings: Wisdom 12:13, 16-19; Psalms 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16; Romans 8:26-27; Matthew 13: 24-43 GOOD SEEDS Today Jesus continues to speak to his followers using parables. What a rich treasure we are given today in three parables about the kingdom of heaven! The kingdom is likened to a man sowing good seed in his field, a…
Sunday’s Readings: Isaiah 55:10-11; Psalms 65:10, 11, 12-13, 14; Romans 8:18-23; Matthew 13:1-23 GOD’S WORDSEach day we are bombarded with thousands of words. From the moment our clock radios click on in the morning, until the last moment of the day when the television is turned off or someone bids us “good-night,” our life is filled…