of the human person from conception until natural death
This weekday’s series of passages from the Book of Genesis begins on Monday by recounting the patriarch Jacob’s journey from Beer-sheba to Haran after receiving his father Isaac’s blessing, all the while fleeing the revenge of his brother Esau. During the night, Jacob has a dream of a ladder (Sūllām Yaʿăqōḇ)…
The lectionary is a collection of Biblical readings used for worship and study. During Lent, it is organized to reflect the season’s penitential character. Usually, the first reading is chosen according to what’s called the principle of harmony. The Old Testament reading is selected because of the harmony or the…
This weekend’s Gospel opens with the parable asking if someone who is blind can lead others who are blind? It refers to the obvious fact that someone who is ignorant or misguided themselves cannot effectively guide others, as both of them will end up in trouble. No student is better…
The Book of Sirach (its older name) is an Old Testament book variously known as Sirach, the Wisdom of Jesus, Ben Sira, or Ecclesiasticus, not to be confused with another similarly-sounding book entitled Ecclesiastes in the ancient Hebrew Canon of the Old Testament. The earliest of those titles appears to…
Even in the liturgical calendar, the season of Advent points ahead to Christmas because while the term Advent literally means arrival, it signifies the arrival of the Child Jesus. Being somewhat redundant, you could say that advent is genuinely adventual — a time before, a looking forward — and it lacks meaning without Christmas.
In the Hebrew Bible, there is one Book of Kings (Heb. Sefer Melakim) and, as one scroll, it was initially only consonants; only after 600 AD were vowel points added.…
Is it best understood as prayer or a place? The most common New Testament Greek word that is translated into English as prayer is the word proseuche (Gk. προσευχή). When…
Joseph, the son of Jacob prefigures a type of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Psalm 105:16-22 summarizes the important facts of the life of Joseph, vizier of Egypt. In the…
Nature and dignity 