As we saw last time, the first teaching we get from Jesus in his public ministry is “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near!” I’ve written extensively on repentance in the past, but to summarize, to repent is to undergo a change of mind, heart, and disposition such that one begins to see … Continue reading The Beatitudes (Part I)
This series is about the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus’ first major teaching discourse, which can be found Matthew 5-7. But before we get into that, it’s important to see how Matthew sets the stage for it. And that’s what today's post is about. The Gospel according to St Matthew begins — rather inauspiciously for … Continue reading Setting the Scene: A Survey of Matthew 1-4
Today's Gospel reading is the Parable of the Sower: God's Kingdom is described as a farmer who spreads seed over his lands. He does this abundantly, even wastefully, casting it onto the rocks and roadside as much as on his fields. It's a fascinating story because it presents a unique and perhaps surprising perspective on … Continue reading Working the Land (A Reflection on the Parable of the Sower) [Repost]
Some of the oddest pieces of the Bible to many of us today are the long sections taken up with genealogies. We can be excused for asking why, considering the great expense of writing materials in the ancient world, biblical authors felt the need to include this content at all. Moreover, thinking of the Bible … Continue reading Understanding Biblical Genres: Genealogies
A former priest of mine used to tell a story that has really stuck with me. He was traveling in Europe and was able to get an audience with a monk famed for his wisdom. With great difficulty, through their language barrier, he was able to tell this monk of his plans and what he … Continue reading The Beginning of the Good News: A Reflection for Advent 2, 2020
Matthew Root 