Even people in the same room with Jesus did not always see Him as the Light of the world. In contrast, Nathanael met Jesus for the first time, realized that the Lord already knew him, and recognized Him as the Son of God. After giving the Twelve authority to preach and heal, Jesus sent them as missionaries with the instruction to take nothing with them except the clothes and sandals they wore. That took faith! Rumors spread as people speculated that John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the other prophets had come back to life as Jesus. Herod had

In every Mass, Catholics repeat the words of a centurion (a Roman military commander) whose faith amazed Jesus. Admittedly unworthy to have the Lord under his roof, the centurion asked Jesus by messenger to just say the word that would heal a servant. No one had to ask when Jesus knew the need and brought the only son of a widow back to life for her. The Lord had His detractors, who wanted people to dance to their tune. Scribes and Pharisees scoffed at the company Jesus kept. Nevertheless, the Lord drew crowds of people who could relate to His

Before healing a man’s withered hand, Jesus asked the scribes and Pharisees in the synagogue if they thought it lawful to do something good on the Sabbath. They refused to answer but became enraged when Jesus worked the miracle. Jesus chose the Twelve Apostles after spending a night in prayer. Their world got turned upside down! The Beatitudes illustrated why as Jesus declared that people who suffered hardships would find themselves eternally blessed. Challenges we face may seem to contradict hope. Sometimes, we don’t know what to do. Jesus

Despite plenty of poor widows and lepers among the “chosen people,” God had helped Gentiles when He sent Elijah to a poor widow in Sidon and directed a Syrian leper to see Elisha. People in Nazareth had marveled at Jesus before He came up with those infuriating bits of Old Testament history. Within minutes, they wanted to throw Him off a cliff! At the Lake of Gennesaret (the Sea of Galilee), an ardently enthusiastic crowd pressed toward Jesus on the shore until He got into Peter’s boat to teach. Afterward, when the Lord suggested going fi

Jesus told hypocritical scribes and Pharisees that they blocked the way into the Kingdom of heaven by setting examples such as swearing oaths on gold, instead of guiding people toward God. John the Baptist stood up to Herod, who found John both fascinating and fearsome. In Jesus’ parable about ten bridesmaids, five missed a torchlight procession to the wedding feast because they went to get more oil. In another story, a man going on a journey entrusted some wealth to three servants. Two used it wisely, and one unprofitably buried it for safek

When a rich young man asked Jesus how to gain eternal life, the Lord said to obey the Commandments, love other people, give his material wealth to the poor, and follow Him. Becoming penniless seemed like too much to ask. Saint Peter wanted to know the perks for the Twelve, who had given up everything to follow the Lord. Jesus invited them to set their sights on heavenly glory and eternal life. In a parable, the Lord compared the Kingdom of heaven to vineyard workers hired throughout the day. At quitting time, all received the same pay, which se

As Jesus walked on choppy water to reach the Disciples’ boat, Peter tried to join Him but started to sink for lack of faith. The Lord buoys up foundering sinners. After Jesus let Peter off the hook for telling a tax collector that He paid the temple tax, the Lord provided a coin in the mouth of a fish to cover the cost for both of them. Peter thought that forgiving someone seven times should suffice. To Jesus, 77 times sounded better. The Lord wants people to come together in faith, and Jesus promised that we can count on the Father to grant