This week of Lent has a somewhat strange and otherworldly character. The world of Abraham is so far distant that child sacrifice was considered acceptable and not surprising. The shock for Abraham was not that he should be asked to sacrifice a child, but that this child was his only one. The child was given […]
Second Sunday of Lent Read More »
The god of the Israelites was different. First off there was only one – this was really strange. Right through to the time of Jesus everyone else thought that was just weird. Why would you have only one god? Surely you’d be better off with many gods, that would cover your bases much more effectively.
First Sunday of Lent Read More »
We arrive at this Lent from a place we couldn’t have imagined a year ago. Some were aware that a new virus might cause problems. Within a few weeks we were unable to gather, and Easter was a strange shadow of our normal celebration. But even then I doubt many realized the extent of the
The story we hear today of Jesus curing the leper shows both his power, but also his limitations. His power because he can cure one of the most feared diseases in the ancient world. But his limitation because despite his strict warning to the cured man not to publicize what has happened, the man does
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »
Most of us live most of our lives between the two extremes illustrated in our readings today. On the one hand we have Job in the depths of despair, a state that looks much like major depression to our eyes, a demon in both ancient and modern thought. On the other we have the disciples
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »