Jesus said to his disciples: “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens…
Month: November 2021
Growth points…
Translations of James 3:2a “…we all fall short in many respects.” New American Bible Revised Edition “For we all stumble in many ways.” English Standard Version Catholic Edition “We are betrayed, all of us, into many faults;” Knox Translation James is speaking particularly here of “stumbling” with our tongues, but the truth of his statement…
What the King wants…
Pilate said to Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?” Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My…
Nugget on mercy in Sirach (Ben Sira)
Because the Jews took the Torah (“instruction”) seriously, the ground was well-prepared for Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Here is one example: Sirach (Ben Sira) 28:2-4 2 Forgive your neighbor the wrong done to you; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven. 3 Does anyone nourish anger against another and expect healing from…
The End–When?
Jesus said to his disciples: “In those days after that tribulation the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. “And then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in the clouds’…
A marriage nugget from Sirach (Ben Sira)
My soul takes pleasure in three things, and they are beautiful in the sight of the Lord and of people: agreement between brothers, friendship between neighbors, and a wife and husband who accommodate each other. Sirach 25:1 from the just-translated ESV-CE. (English Standard Version–Catholic Edition) The final phrase has been translated “who live in…
Widow saints
From the Sunday Note, with additional thoughts: In the course of his teaching Jesus said to the crowds, “Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. They devour the houses of widows and, as…
A nugget from Ben Sira (Sirach) 19:13-16
When we read the wisdom writings in our Old Testaments, we need to keep in mind what we are used to doing with the historical and prophetic books–reading and understanding them in light of the Gospels. Just as the Jews understanding of “neighbor” grew over time, certain elements of the wisdom tradition need clarification or…
Now, about that “neighbor”…
One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus replied, “The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with…