Anyone could pray in the outer Temple area, and Jesus ransacked a marketplace inappropriately set up there. He offered to tell priests and elders where He got the authority, but only if they answered whether the baptism offered by John the Baptist had heavenly or human origin. Scripture traces Jesus' family tree. Although Divine, Jesus shared in humanity through His birth to the Virgin Mary. When two miraculously expectant mothers greeted each other, Elizabeth called Mary the Mother of the Lord, blessed for believing. When we question why God d

Mary wanted to understand how she could give birth to the Son of God, but accepting the angel Gabriel's answer still required great faith. Like children wanting people to sing or dance to whatever tunes they played on their flutes, people criticized John the Baptist and Jesus for ministering in their own ways. God, who never tires, can renew people's strength. Jesus showed the kind of meekness that means patient endurance; it takes inner strength! Like a good shepherd, the Lord does not abandon one sheep gone astray. During Advent, do we recogn

When Jesus invited the fishermen Peter, Andrew, James, and John to follow Him, they did not hesitate. Observing a poor widow placing two small coins into the Temple treasury, the Lord compared her sacrifice to contributions made by others with wealth to spare. Jesus foretold destruction of Jerusalem, including its richly adorned Temple, and people wanted a warning sign to expect. For the Disciples, He advised looking toward redemption, not destruction. Scriptural letters of Saint Paul pointed out that Jesus came for everyone, but no one can bel

Jesus healed a blind beggar, who saw the glory of God in what Jesus had done for him. Onlookers in a crowd saw no reason for Jesus to favor Zacchaeus, a rich tax collector, by staying at his house. In a parable, Jesus described profitable servants handsomely rewarded when a nobleman became king. In anger, the Lord ransacked a marketplace set up in the Temple area meant as a place of prayer open to everyone. Jesus preached the Kingdom of God at hand. Fantastical symbolism in the later Book of Revelation conveyed the writer’s historical time of

Suppose a person wronged seven times in one day heard the same apology over and over. Jesus said to forgive every time, acknowledging the difficulty of overcoming ingrained sin. Becoming a profitable servant of the Lord requires more than meeting obligations. Ten lepers received healing, but only one returned to give thanks and glory to God. Saint Paul wanted Onesimus to return to Philemon as a brother, not a slave, and offered to repay any amount that Onesimus may have stolen. Jesus reminded His Disciples of the Old Testament story of Lot’s

Saint Paul urged the Philippians to consider other people, not just their own interests. Jesus had spoken more dramatically. In select company at the home of a leading Pharisee, Jesus advised inviting the poor to banquets. Compared with the love that God deserves, even love for family might seem like hatred. Discipleship has costs but far more value than possessions. In a parable, a dishonest steward about to get fired by the property owner hoped that quickly reducing amounts that debtors owed would lead to later favors in return. Such tactics

After a night in prayer, the Lord chose the Twelve Apostles. Like a tiny mustard seed that grows into a huge bush, that small group grew into a worldwide Church. As Jesus made His way to Jerusalem and the Cross, someone asked how many would be saved. The Lord seemed discouraged as He told people to try, although many would find themselves too weak to enter the narrow gate. Saint Paul later advised Christians in Ephesus to get strength from the Lord—to make righteousness their armor and carry faith like a shield. He also asked for their prayer