Roman Catholics can be spotted with eyes raised to heaven overheard to give thanks that we are not like certain others fundamentalists and such When I was once engaging in that self-congratulatory behavior I was helpfully challenged by John R Donahue S J familiar to readers of America who s

29th Sunday OT All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for refutation for correction and for training in righteousness advises the author of 2 Timothy setting a challenging agenda for all of us involved with God s word The first reading offers a mysterious and troubling scenar

The first and gospel readings need little explanation to be familiar to us Scholars though remind us that in both cases the sinful and scandalous situation is beyond while still including the personal Imperial aggression is expensive for the aggressed and so 8th century kings organized the econ

Twenty-third Sunday The first reading Wis 9 13-18b offers a perspective that seems at odds with much that is claimed often in the Scripture predictably in homilies surely in popular pronouncement The Book of Wisdom likely the youngest book in the Old Testament speaks of the gap between what

20th Sunday Jer 38 4-6 8-10 The vivid image of Jeremiah plopping ignominiously into the cistern of Prince Malchiah generates a pair of insights for me First the courage of the person who rescued him The man s name is not given and perhaps he was called Ebed-Melek which is Servant or sla

The Gospel teaching on asking with its embedded parable seems to set the tone Though I am sympathetic with the sleepy householder Ask sooner friend Ask more quietly more politely Bake your own bread I hear something quite different Ask for anything Ask importunately Ask for basics As

The Deuteronomy reading and the Psalm if the Ps 19 option is selected offers an opportunity to preach well about Torah both biblical and as observed by Jews today As Christians look from the outside the particulars of the law can seem burdensome pointless or worse as we may be tempted to