Life and Death The Gospel account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead has several points of spiritual significance, here are three of them: Reference to the resurrection of the dead in the Old Testament can be found in the Book of Daniel: Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some to everlasting life, others to reproach and everlasting disgrace (Dan 12:2). In Jesus’ time, the Jews were divided about the resurrection of the…
Light and Blindness Scripture reading: Healing of the man born blind (Jn 9:1-41) The miracle of the healing of the man born blind is closely connected to Jesus as the Light of the world. It is not clear from the Gospel text when it was exactly that Jesus declared to the scribes and the Pharisees, “I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12); but…
Listen to Him! The Gospel account of the Transfiguration appears in all three synoptic Gospels; comparing all three with one another gives us a fuller picture of the event: In summary, Jesus led Peter, James and John up a high mountain where He was physically transfigured – His face shone like the sun and His clothes became dazzling white (white as light). Moses and Elijah appeared and conversed with Jesus; they talked about His exodus that He was to accomplish…
Lessons from the Desert After Jesus was baptized in the Jordan by John the Baptist, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert; He was alone and He fasted for forty days. Jesus seemed vulnerable and Satan came to tempt Him. Point (1) The devil tempts us when we are physically, mentally and spiritually weak and vulnerable. Satan’s objective was to thwart God’s plan of salvation which Jesus, the Son, intended to carry out; this plan will ultimately lead…
Lent – Its Origin and Purpose Lent – Its Origin and Purpose Lent is a time when the whole Church reflects on the Passion, Death and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ; at the same time, it is a time for the unbaptized to prepare for baptism and for those already baptized, it is a time for personal spiritual renewal. In the 3rd to 4th century Church, preparation for baptism lasted several years. During that time of preparation, the unbaptized…
Peter’s Speech In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught His disciples that it is not enough not to kill, but that they must not have anger in their hearts and be reconciled with their brothers. Jesus taught them that it is not enough not to commit adultery, but that one must not look lustfully at others, and that there can be no divorce in lawful marriages. Jesus taught them that it is not enough not to take a false…
Salt and Light “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in…
Living a Blessed Life The Gospel of Matthew tells us that Jesus went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people. His fame spread to all of Syria, and they brought to Him all who were sick with various diseases and racked with pain, those who were possessed, lunatics, and paralytics, and he cured them. Great crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and from…
From Galilee to the World Why did Jesus begin His ministry in Galilee? As the Gospel of Matthew tells us, Jesus left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled: “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sit in darkness have seen a…
The Sacrament of Baptism Isaiah 49:1-7 contains the second of the four “Servant of the Lord” oracles. It contains the prophecy: “I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” In the context of the Old Testament passage, these words were meant for Israel. However, could it be that like many of the Old Testament prophecies, this one was also fulfilled by Jesus Christ in the Gospels? Let us…