Afriend once told me a story of a conversation with a rabbi who said that the New Testament was not a holy book In sympathy with the rabbi my friend said that he could understand how the rabbi was offended by the more anti-Jewish sections of Matthew or by Paul rsquo s view that Christ was the end

Karl Barth one of the great theologians of the past century urged people to read the Bible with a copy of the daily newspaper at their side He realized that the Bible could challenge the way we view human life I write these lines three days after the horrendous catastrophe that has washed over s

Destruction and violence are before me there is strife and clamorous discord rdquo how sadly current ldquo When you have done all you have been commanded say lsquo We are unprofitable servants we have done what we were obliged to do rsquo rdquo Habakkuk rsquo s cry and Jesus rsquo wor

II was thinking about these readings while half-heartedly watching one of the morning television news shows There was a segment on the rising number of spas for dogs where with compatible companions they could get a complete makeover mdash haircut shampoo pedicure mdash topped off by a dose of

As the bright light of summer yields to the soft hues of autumn while students settle into school and parish activities move into high gear Christians often ponder over vacation expenses tuition bills and the impending cost of new projects Life in Christ seems to be taken over by calculator and

The parables of Luke 15 often called ldquo The Gospel within the Gospel rdquo epitomize Luke rsquo s message of forgiveness and repentance These motifs appear more frequently in Luke than in any other Gospel Zechariah heralds the coming of the Lord who will bring forgiveness of sin 1 77 an

Over the past weeks the readings have alternated between presentations of Jesus as a model of compassion and mercy and as a leader who makes harsh demands of his followers e g entering the narrow gate casting fire on the earth bringing division among families In today rsquo s Gospel the deman

Eating with Jesus should be a time of healing, which can shock even customary religious sensitivities.

At the end of his magisterial survey of the quest of the historical Jesus in the 19th century Albert Schweitzer recalled Jesus rsquo command to every Christian to follow him and added quot to those who obey him whether they be wise or simple he will reveal himself in the toils in the conflic

Christians today overly concerned about impressive gates and religious identity may find some surprising table companions at the messianic banquet.