Did Jesus offer an unfair trade to the Jewish leaders?

A first response to the gospel portion in this Sunday’s Lectionary reading could be “why did Jesus offer an unfair trade to the Jewish[1] leaders?” The passage is Matthew 21:23-32. The ESV[2] includes two headings: “The authority of Jesus challenged” and “The parable of the two sons.” The portion says Jewish leaders interrupted Jesus while …

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Caught between a sentence now and in the future?

The lectionary invites us this Sunday to ponder Jesus’ prediction of his suffering and death in Jerusalem, Peter’s reaction, and Jesus’ response. It reminds us we’re caught between a sentence now and in the future. The passage is Matthew 16:21-28. Most bibles split it in half and supply the headings “Jesus Foretells His Death and …

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Why did people say Jesus was Jeremiah?

This Sunday, the lectionary invites us to ponder the gospel passage which many translations title “Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ” (Matthew 16:13-20). The passage features Jesus and Peter and “the disciples,” the twelve members of Jesus’ inner circle. It tells of a conversation between them. By this time, Jesus has performed miraculous healings, exorcisms, …

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Cords of life, death, sisterhood, friendship, faith

July is cord blood awareness month. Cord blood is nutrient-rich blood which flows from a pregnant mother’s placenta to her baby via the umbilical cord[1]. The umbilical cord is the lifeline between mother and child. Ironically, this July my mother had another close shave with death. Early one morning, my mother complained that she wasn’t …

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