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
Read MoreDespite 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
Read MoreJesus 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
Read MoreWhen 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
Read MoreAs 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
Read MoreMoses and God got fed up with the people grumbling, even though they had what they needed. On the other hand, Jesus multiplied five loaves and two fish to feed an uncomplaining but hungry crowd. When a Canaanite woman begged Jesus to heal her daughter, He echoed what the Israelites thought by saying that dogs should not get food meant for children. She answered that even dogs get table scraps, and Jesus rewarded her faith by working the miracle. Peter started to sink when Jesus invited him to walk on water toward Him, and the Disciples lacked e
Read MoreJesus compared the Kingdom of heaven to a tiny mustard seed that becomes a huge plant, a little yeast that leavens a whole batch of dough, or one treasure worth selling all else to obtain it. At the end of time, Jesus said, angels will separate heavenbound people from the others, like harvesters separating wheat from weeds that had grown in the same field, or like fishermen sorting good fish from bad after hauling in their catch. In Nazareth, people took offense when Jesus, son of the local carpenter and Mary, taught in their synagogue. (Who di
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