In today’s Gospel text, Jesus speaks of a baptism with which he must be baptized. He does not speak of baptism in the context of water but in the context of suffering and death. He will shed his blood to save the world, and he says that this experience causes him anguish until it is accomplished, until it is over. He knows that it is through his death that God’s people will be...
In today’s Gospel text Jesus is talking about being ready for his return. Of course, the first level of that message is about his return at the end of time. However, he comes at other times, too.
In the past four months, we have experienced the loss of three members of this community. None of these losses were unexpected. Once we reach a certain age, thoughts of the return of Jesus to...
When it was suggested that I preach for Sr. Margaret Anne’s funeral, I asked if she had designated any of the Scripture readings for the funeral Mass. The form that she filled out simply states that we should choose anything that is appropriate. This statement caused Sr. Mary Mark to ask (as only she would) whether Sister thought we would choose something inappropriate. So, I want to...
When Mediterranean families gather for a meal, the head of the family fills the cups of all at table. Each one is expected to quietly accept without question and drink what the head of the family has given. For these people, the behavior of God is assumed to be like the behavior of the patriarch of the family, the cup became a metaphor to represent one’s lot in life which God has...
The ordinary formula for granting a blessing is to invoke the name of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. St. Paul modifies this slightly by calling upon God to grant the Ephesians a spirit of wisdom, understanding, and knowledge – three things that we ordinarily think of as being gifts of the Holy Spirit.
St. Paul is asking God to bless the Ephesians with hope, with knowledge of...