Jesus has just launched the “blessed are you” revolution into the lives of every human. Now, he unravels the first “how-to” instruction through an imperative: Love your enemies. You will do so at once, without waiting, not in response but in anticipation, not because that is how things are, but because you are the difference.…
Every time I approach the Gospel of the Beatitudes, I fear spoiling it with my words. I know I have not yet fully understood it; it surprises and escapes me. “The Sermon of the Mount” subtly challenges you and, by its power, unsettles you. I contemplate it like a painting, rekindling my longing for a…
This is how Jesus’ story with his disciples started: Fatigued fishermen, empty nets, and boats with no catch were pulled ashore; indeed, frustrating moments don’t feel conducive for Godly revelations. We expect to meet God over the pinnacle of the temple but not from the pulpit of a boat in Capernaum. He was not in…
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,” proclaimed Jesus; then, like in suspense movies: “all eyes were fixed on him.” The voice of Isaiah resounded vividly: words so ancient and so beloved, so prayed for and so longed for, so near and so far. The voice of Jesus gave it flesh, and scripture came…
Something has gone unnoticed at a seemingly big wedding: it has only started, and the wine comes up short. This is a rather unusual scene at a feast in Cana of Galilee: the groom is entirely unaware that the wine has run out at his celebration, the bride is not even mentioned by name, and…
The quiet Jordan River is shaken during Jesus’ baptism, releasing heavenly blessings on every human who longs for our creator’s embrace. The heavens opened, and a voice resounded, “You are my Son, the beloved: you are the source of my joy.” Delightful words to hear! The voice speaks three things about Jesus and each of…
The word of God resonates through families and generations, sharing stories of love and crises. Like in Adam and Eve’s family, we see conflict themes and life’s enduring power. The Bible reveals the expressions and struggles of love, emphasizing its tangible and everyday nature. The same is true in today’s Gospel: a story of a…
The virgin Mary hurried to visit elderly Elizabeth, and “As she entered the house of Zechariah, she greeted her.” This moment was like an angel bringing joyful news, which the child in Elizabeth’s womb immediately sensed. It was as if music played, calling for a dance and signaling the end of sadness, so the child…
Although John the Baptist was far away from the temple by the Jordan River, crowds descended mainly to see him. People who were not appreciated at the temple—ordinary people, publicans, and soldiers—went because he was credible and went straight to the heart of life: The outcasts, with restless hearts, asked, “Do you know the way?…
A solemn, almost majestic page kicks off this Gospel. From an unnamed place, the narrative launches itself to the heart of the Roman empire, dashing from the Jordan River to the throne of Tiberius Caesar. He outlines the geopolitical and religious structures and announces that in the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar’s reign, the word…