Fire

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 326 total views The Fourth Sunday of Easter is called Good Shepherd Sunday. In describing himself as the Good Shepherd, (cf s1S#28, Shepherd, 4/25/21), Jesus repeated in today’s gospel (John 10:11-18) the verb “lay down” (his life for his sheep) 5 times (vv 11, 15, 17, 18 x2). tithēmi (τίθημι), is a common verb meaning “put,”

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 626 total views In Luke’s summary of the risen Christ’s first appearance to his disciples (24:35-48) aside from its apologetic slant (proving that He is the same Jesus and not a ghost, and asking for something to eat, vv38-43) he concludes with the apostles’ post-Easter mandate to preach repentance underlining it’s redemptive value (v47; cf first

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 616 total views Today’s gospel (John 20:19-31) recounts the first appearance of the risen Christ where all eleven apostles are present and serve as the setting for Jesus to commission or send them, (cf s1S#39 Send, 7/11/21). The sudden appearance of the risen Jesus (confrontation), startles the disciples (reaction), requiring that Jesus set them at ease:

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 2,365 total views From the gospel today comes the most quoted and even memorized verse: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life” (3:16). The verb “agapaō” ( άγαπάω ), occurred more than a hundred times in

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 2,379 total views All four gospels has the account of the purification of the temple by Jesus. In the synoptics, it precedes Jesus’ arrest at the end of his public life, coinciding with his only visit to Jerusalem during his ministry: Matthew (21:12-13) and Luke (19:45-47) on the day Jesus entered Jerusalem; Mark (11:15-17), on the

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 2,890 total views All three synoptic gospels narrate the Transfiguration of Jesus (Mk 9:2-10; Mt 17:1-9; Lk 6:28-36). Following the priority of the Markan gospel, one can say that both Matthew and Luke have drawn their account from that of Mark sharing in many of its features. The term “metamorphoō” ( μεταμορόω ) is a verb

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 3,785 total views Today’s gospel (Mk 1:12-15) narrates the event after Jesus’ baptism. He was led by the Spirit, the same Spirit present to Jesus in his baptism (1:10), into combat with the evil one, then followed by the beginning of his public ministry. In the synoptic tradition, the Markan account of Jesus’ temptation (1:12f) is

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 3,719 total views s1S#77 Repent 3/20/22) Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the season of Lent, 40 days of preparation for Easter. The day is marked by fasting, abstinence, and the blessing with ashes. These remind us of the need for reconciliation with God. They indicate our mortality. It was an early practice in Rome for

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 6,140 total views “Oh little town of Bethlehem …” so goes the song. Jesus was born in the little town of Bethlehem, בֵּֽית־לֶ֣חֶם, Beyt-lechem, (cf. Lk 2:4; Mt 2:5-6). It is but fitting that the Messiah should be born in the city from which King David hails, (1Sam 16:1;17:12), and the place of his annointment as

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 7,569 total views The word “thronos” (θρόνος), translated as a throne, is easily associated with a seat of power especially of the kings. As the Church honors Christ the King on this last Sunday of the liturgical year, today’s gospel (Mt 25:31-46) refers to him as the Son of Man coming “to sit on his glorious

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 8,344 total views Beginning Chapter 24 of the gospel of Matthew Jesus begins to prepare his disciples for what is to come (24:—25:46). The imminent destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple becomes a metaphor for the final judgment at the close of the age, a warning and encouragement to be constantly in a state of preparedness

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 8,999 total views Today’s gospel (Mt 23:1-12) is the beginning of the chapter that contains Jesus’ strongest words against the scribes and Pharisees (vv13-36, the seven woes), bringing to a close Jesus’ dealings with them and their teachings, (which started from 21:23). Addressing the crowds and his disciples, Jesus warns them to beware of the ways