Gospel (Page 2)

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). Sainthood can be easily dismissed as an impossible lifestyle far beyond our reach. After all, most of us do not wear sackcloth, pray 10 hours a day, start a religious congregation, or risk being fedRead More →

Ironically both men got what they prayed for. The tax collector humbly asked for mercy, and he received it. The Pharisee asked for nothing because he thought that he already had it all, and he received nothing. The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector shows us whose prayersRead More →

This parable is what the rabbis called “from the lesser to the greater.” If it is the case that even this cynical judge caved in to constant appeal, how much more will God eventually respond to those who, like the widow, keep pleading for what they desire. (Of course, whatRead More →

 The Greek word Luke uses for the leper’s thanksgiving in today’s story is “eucharistein”. And we are here now because we know that the best possible way of expressing our thanks to God for all his gifts is through participation in the Holy Eucharist. Here is made present Christ’s selfRead More →

A friend of mine gave me some acorns, with the idea that I would make them into prayer beads. I tipped them out and there, amongst them all, was an acorn with a crack in its golden shell and the palest green shoot beginning to sprout. This acorn knew exactly what itRead More →

The use of Lazarus-Eleazar (Lazarus, the Greek form of the Hebrew name “Eleazar,”) and Abraham in the parable reminds the Jewish audience of Eleazar of Damascus, Abraham’s chief steward mentioned in Genesis 15:2-3. Eleazar, also a Gentile steward, was initially the heir to Abraham’s estate until Isaac was born. DespiteRead More →

It’s only with the threat of losing his comfortable lifestyle that the steward realises he has no contingency plan, no future. He knows his limits, so changes his strategies to buy friends and influence people. And with such expertise that the Master has to appreciate how the steward provides forRead More →

Around 11km outside the city of Siauliai in northern Lithuania, an old, earthen mound hunches under the weight of thousands of crosses. As the wind blows across the fields of rural Siauliai County, ornate rosaries clink against metal and wooden crucifixes, filling the air with eerie chimes. Known as theRead More →

Jesus switches to an illustration about planning to build a tower and counting the cost before we do so. Or a king preparing to wage war against an enemy but first reckoning on the strength of his own troops before committing himself. In the same way, we are to reckonRead More →

Notice here that the listing: the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind – reflect those listed in Jesus’ initial declaration for his ministry way back in Luke 4:18: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,  because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.Read More →