Reflections for Ordinary Time

We’ve arrived – at the point where Isaiah spells it out: God’s way are not our ways (Is 55:6-9). And we have another passage from Matthew’s gospel where the point is illustrated yet again (Mt 20:1-16a). This time it’s a bit more pointed, both because we can relate to it very directly – who has […]

So why does the king decide to let his servant off his debt? (Mt 18:21-35) Because he offers to pay him back, in full? Not at all. The amount of money mentioned in the original words of this parable doesn’t mean anything to us, which is why our translation simply says “a huge amount”. But

“whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matt 18:18 These words may well sound familiar. We heard them just a few weeks ago. But that was in a different context, when Jesus was telling Peter about the authority he would have

It’s not always easy to follow the way of the Lord. The message of both Old and New Testaments is that God loves us and wants our well-being. Jesus continually tells us not to be afraid and delivers a message of peace. But we know there will be challenges in our lives. And sometimes those

So, according to our reading from Isaiah today (Is 22:19-23), Shebna is out of favor and Eliakim is on the up. But in the end it didn’t turn out so well for Eliakim either. In the subsequent conflict with the king of Assyria, Eliakim ended up on the wrong side and also lost favor. So

All three of our readings this week talk about inclusion and exclusion, being on the inside vs on the outside. The Book of Isaiah is remarkable for its championing of an inclusive view of God’s relationship with humankind. Today’s reading (Is 56:1, 6-7) is just one example among many. The opportunity offered to “all people”

The readings this week provide us with an interesting comparison between Elijah and Peter (1 Kgs 19:9a, 11-13a and Mt 14:22-33). Both have been called by God, personally and directly. Neither is handling it very well.  Elijah has just run away from trouble – not unreasonably we might think, since he’s upset the king’s wife

The Transfiguration is arguably the most dramatic event described in the gospels.  I guess bringing people back to life is also up there but, at least in the way the gospels talk about it, doesn’t have quite the wow factor of the Transfiguration.  If the Resurrection were described, doubtless it would take prize position, but

Yet more parables about the Kingdom! And at the end of it Jesus says to the disciples, “ok, do you get it now?” To which they respond, “oh yes!” (Mt 13:44-52) I have to wonder whether they were being entirely truthful at this point. Having needed explanations all along the way, now they get it?

This week we hear three parables about the Kingdom (Mt 13:24-43). The reading finishes with a fiery furnace and wailing and gnashing of teeth – very atmospheric but in a way unfortunate because it tends to overshadow everything that comes before.  If we look at the parables as a set, one striking thing is how