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A bird’s eye view of how archaeology helps our study of scripture.  The story of Jesus is well known. in addition to the gospels, numerous secular authors within 150 years of his life mention him. In addition, Josephus affirms that Jesus was called the Christ and that his brother was James, Pliny the Younger notes that Christians worshipped Jesus “as a god,” and Tacitus wrote that Christ, “suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at…

Today’s first reading tells us how the Israelites were grumbling against Moses and God for bringing them into a desert where they were starving and upset with their plight.  They felt as if God had abandoned them.  They began to think that God hadn’t saved them from slavery at all, and that they would be better off back in Egypt where they would at least have something to eat.  All of a sudden, however, quail…

This past week, a crowd of 50 thousand Catholics attended the Eucharistic Renewal Conference in Indianapolis.  Appropriately, the Sunday’s gospel gave us a special “take” on Eucharist that tends to get obscured when hearing the institution narrative at each Mass (i.e., “Jesus took the bread, blest it . . . saying ‘Take this’” and “He took the chalice . . .”).  John’s gospel has no such “last supper” scene.  But John’s gospel this weekend is…

Today’s gospel tells of Jesus and the apostles needing rest after working with the people.  They sought a “deserted place” where they could relax, recover, and then return to their ministry.  I was reminded of what Catholic tradition has called a “retreat.”  This term refers to one taking time off from their regular schedule and spending time reflecting on their life and asking God for guidance and insight.  When one enters the Society of Jesus,…

Prophet Amos was going about his business when he realized that things around him were just not going as they should.  Israelites were not listening to the wisdom handed down to them, and a religious leader named Amariah was chief among those who were not living as God had called them to live.  Nonetheless, Amariah went after Amos and tried to shut him up.  But Amos simply said that he had no intention of being…

This week’s readings bring to mind the role of “prophet” in both scripture and our lives.  The word is used in everyday conversation.  It refers to one who can predict what will take place in the future.  That is, one seems to know what is going to occur at some future date.  This meaning, however, is not how the word is used as a theological term.  Within that realm, it refers to one who, in…

How on earth can the story of a woman suffering from hemorrhages for 12 years be related to our lives?  No problem!  How so?  Did you notice that the scene was described as overflowing with people—a rock-concern-like crowd following Jesus?  The woman thinks to herself that if only she touched the cloak of Jesus, her condition might improve.  She touches him, and Jesus feels her touch—and asks the disciples “Who touched me?”  They, of course,…

June 30, 2024 Acronyms are popular, and the word “bible” appropriately serves as an acronym that defines what this “good book” is!  The Bible provides us with “basic information before leaving earth.”  This week’s readings are good examples of how this is so.  We have some very important knowledge—relevant to each of us—conveyed in the Genesis reading and the Gospel. Remember that for centuries it was thought by many that Moses wrote the first 5…