Deep Calls to Deep 20th Sunday Ordinary Time – Who are “The Lost Sheep of Israel?”
9:00 am Mass Homily – Back to this again: Hurt people hurt people. OR, the lost/perishing/murderous sheep of Israel hurt the shepherd and every one else. The key word is ‘apollumi, “to lose, destroy, kill.” It establishes a network the points to a sub-theme in Matthew’s gospel. Here’s how and where we find it. Don’t be surprised to […]
20th Sunday Ordinary Time – Summary & Audio
Quick Summary: 1) The disciples took on a role of “sending people away” from Jesus. 2) The disciples also demonstrate spiritual Alzheimer’s by attempting to silence the Canaanite woman who “kept crying out after us.” They forgot their own “crying out” after Jesus to save them on the stormy sea. This is the mirror that […]
20th Sunday Ordinary Time – Spiritual Alzheimer’s
Our mom died with Alzheimer’s back in ’89. Many of us know the cruel nature of the disease. We watch the person slipping away before our eyes even while the body remains intact, even healthy. The personhood just goes away, as it were. Vacant stare. “Do I know you?” Damn cruel. It’s an apt metaphor […]
20th Sunday Ordinary Time – Overview…
I do not get Matthew’s portrayal of Jesus in this gospel passage. Bad hair day? Ate the wrong food? Got up on the wrong side of the bed? I don’t get it. So, I won’t address that. Nor will I address the persistence of the Canaanite woman. Let’s call her Shirley. I now believe that […]
19th Sunday Ordinary Time – How did Jesus respond to the disciples’ situation?
So, today, here’s the whole story – Our situation as described implicitly and explicitly by Matthew PLUS Jesus’ response to our situation. Today’s a “share the audio day.” So, let me know how it all works. Blessings! –roc,sj
19th Sunday Ordinary Time – Situated again with the Disciples & Peter
A couple final quotations to complete the picture of discipleship then and today. In the fourth watch of the night Jesus came toward them walking on the water. Matthew makes a subtle but key connection with another part of his gospel by telling us it was night, nux. Later, at the last supper, he speaks first […]
19th Sunday Ordinary Time – Situated with the Disciples & Peter
Peter not only steps out of the boat, but into the limelight for the first time, really. He distinguishes himself as “the bold one,” the one to take the bull by the horns. And more as we shall see. How does Matthew situate Peter in this story? How does Matthew locate us with him? Several […]
19th Sunday Ordinary Time – Walk on the Water
The story of Jesus walking on the water leads through the churning seas to get to two hopeful places. Thalassa, “sea,” and peran, “on the other side” point us toward the light of Christ shining on all who dwell under the shadow of death. Which is what many of us worry about these days – […]
The Face… For the Feast of the Transfiguration (Oops)
I guess I talked more about “The Case” for the second homily that I neglected “The Face.” So, here’s a Sunday share about Jesus’ face. Jesus manifested the kindly divine intent to welcome, heal, guide, and teach his obstreperous disciples. Matthew 17:2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face […]
The Case & The Face – Transfiguration 4
Jesus’ face shone like the sun and his garments became dazzlingly white. Each word in Greek contributes to the overall meaning of the Transfiguration. Here is the second and different audio homily. I hope to post word studies tomorrow.
Deep Calls to Deep 