Filed under: Homilies | Tags: early church, Elijah, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, prophets, Son of God
Who is Jesus? In this passage, we learn unequivocally that Jesus is, in fact, the Son of God. What is interesting to note is what else Jesus is considered to be. (more…)
Filed under: Homilies | Tags: evangelism, fear, moral decisions, personal value, protection
Whoo boy, this Gospel reading is a doozie. It is chock-full of lessons, metaphors, hidden meanings, and truth. I’ll try to tackle all of it, but I’m sure there will be nuances that will escape this summary and length constraints to my analysis. (more…)
Filed under: Homilies | Tags: apostles, evangelism, God-given gifts, ministry
It begins. After seeing the crowds of people without spiritual direction, Jesus creates a crack team of disciples, dubbed only the “Apostles,” to infiltrate and save the lands of Israel. It was a daring mission: could just 13 men, in one small area of the globe, save all of humanity?
Jesus: I’m taking this into my own hands.
Pharisee: You’re a loose cannon!
In a race against time, this elite force fought against the forces of evil to bring salvation and a message of hope.
See how it all began in… Matthew 9:39-10:8. Coming this Sunday to a church near you. (more…)
Filed under: Homilies | Tags: adultery, difficult teachings, hyperbole, intentions, sin
This passage contains some of Jesus’s more challenging teachings, teachings that for the majority of my life I have struggled to understand and accept. According to the passage, even thinking about committing adultery counts as adultery. And, we are told that self-mutilation is the remedy for bodily sin! But I came to realize, as I have with many Biblical passages that seem difficult or unacceptable on the surface, that to understand the true meaning of Jesus’ message and its relevance for today, one must consider the principles on which these seemingly harsh rules are based. (more…)
Filed under: Homilies | Tags: following Christ, Levi, love, Matthew, tax collectors
I love the elegant simplicity of this passage. It shares not only wisdom on how to follow Jesus, but a glimpse at the core of Jesus’ religious philosophy. I don’t believe that this passage’s modern relevancy can be overstated. (more…)
This particular reading has two distinct part with two distinct messages. In the first part, Jesus gives a disturbing revelation; in the second, Jesus offers an interesting parable. (more…)
