Category: bible

  • Reading the Signs of Ordinary Times

    Reading the Signs of Ordinary Times

    The Readings for the 1st Saturday, Tempus per Annum (C2) The word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit. As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and…

  • More Ordinary Mysteries

    More Ordinary Mysteries

    The Readings for the 1st Wednesday, Tempus per Annum (C2) For because he himself has suffered and been tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted. Hebrews 2:18 THE ANONYMOUS AUTHOR of Hebrews, just for a shorthand, let’s give him a name… say… St Paul? Anyway, St Paul begins, “Since the children share…

  • So, that was Christmas

    So, that was Christmas

    The Readings for the 1st Tuesday, Tempus per Annum (C2) They were amazed at the way he taught, for he did not instruct them like the Torah-teachers but as one who had authority himself. Mark 1:22 HEY! PRESTO! It’s no longer Christmas, but Ordinary Time: tempus per annum. Epiphany had an Octave back in the…

  • Be the Mikveh

    Be the Mikveh

    And he stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. – Matthew 8:3He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.’ – John 7:38Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will…

  • Hashtag Resist

    Hashtag Resist

    The Readings for the 4th Thursday of Advent (A1) He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He hath sent empty away. Luke 1:53 (KJV21) THE ANGELUS IS A favorite devotion of mine. (If you are not familiar with it I have included it at the end of this post.) I’ve used…

  • Urbi et Orbi

    Urbi et Orbi

    The Readings for the 4th Wednesday of Advent (A1) The voice of the man I love! Here he comes, bounding over the mountains, skipping over the hills! Song of Songs 2:8 (CJB) DURING THE GLOBAL PANIC in March of 2020, watching bodies pile up, morgues overrun, hospitals sealing off units, the Holy Father did an…

  • Clash of the Titans

    Clash of the Titans

    The Readings for the 3rd Wednesday of Advent (A1)Memorial of St John of the Cross, Priest & Doctor of the Church Heavens above, rain down justice; let the clouds pour it down. Let the earth open, so that salvation springs up, and justice sprouts with it. I, Adonai, have created it. Isaiah 45:8 (CJB) READING…

  • Time flies…

    Time flies…

    LEARNING, TONIGHT, OF TWO different readings of this passage. One will be familiar to my Christian readers, the other to my Jewish ones. There may be some overlap, but they seem to be mutually exclusive. There may be a way to pull in the both-and option, but we’ll see. The Torah Portion that was read…

  • Our Idols Our Selves

    Our Idols Our Selves

    WHILE LISTENING to the most recent episode of Clerically Speaking, I was struck by Fr Harrison’s ruminating on his ADHD and his free will. If we make out a part of us to be “who I am” then everything is filtered through that. Father seemed to be asking if he’s created too much of a…

  • Patience is a Virtue

    Patience is a Virtue

    The Readings for the 3rd Sunday of Advent (A1) Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord.See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth,being patient with ituntil it receives the early and the late rains.You too must be patient. James 5:7 (NABRE) WHY IS JAMES ASKING US to be…

  • The Echo Here is Amazing

    The Echo Here is Amazing

    YOUR HOST HAS NOTED elsewhere that in studying Hebrew at CitizenCafe Tel Aviv, he gets exposed to a lot of Israeli pop culture. Listening to modern, secular folks discuss Hebrew – or speak or sing in Hebrew – carries with it these echoes of the Tanakh. It cannot but just as much modern English carries…

  • Red in the Morning

    Red in the Morning

    The Readings for the 33rd Sunday, Tempus Per Annum (c2) Before the LORD, for he comes,for he comes to rule the earth,he will rule the world with justiceand the peoples with equity. Psalm 98:9 (Responsorial) FUN FACT: what the NABRE calls “Malachi 3:19” other translations call Malachi 4:1. NABRE has all the words, but only…

  • Many Sons had Father Abraham

    Many Sons had Father Abraham

    GOD CALLS Abram to himself, then some things happen. He lies about his wife, God promises him a son, he lies about his wife again, there’s a son, finally, but not the promised one, and then some other things happen. The Wiki resources on this parashah are amazing. Here are some more. And yet more.…

  • In the Beginning

    In the Beginning

    THIS PAST SABBATH (that is, Sat 22 Oct) marked the beginning of the annual reading of the Torah, the 1st Five Books of the Hebrew Scriptures. The Jewish tradition is to cycle through the whole Torah in a year in very predictable ways. Last Saturday was Shabbat Bereshit. This Saturday, the 29th, is Shabbat Noach.…

  • An Offer You Can’t Refuse

    An Offer You Can’t Refuse

    The Readings for the 29th Friday, Tempus per Annum (C2) One God and Father of All, who is over all, through all, and in all. Ephesians 4:6 P AUL CONTINUES HIS Meditation on the Fatherhood of God. It’s important to note that Paul is speaking to Pagans (and some Jews) who are now followers of…