Encountering Matthew We deal today with the last parable Jesus gave. Interestingly enough, his first parable in Matthew 13 is the parable of the sower and the four kinds of soil… read more

Encountering the Text You can’t accuse Jesus of deceptive advertising. In today’s Gospel he admits upfront that following him leads to a cross. Anybody who thinks that … read more

Encountering 1 Peter Peter is addressing a dire concern. For it is evidently the persecution of Christians initiated by Nero that his readers are facing. It will be remembered… read more

Encountering Matthew Our Gospel reading is rich this Sunday, the longest of the year. We shall focus on one of the minor characters in the story of the passion of Christ —… read more

Encountering John The ninth chapter of John’s Gospel consists of a single episode that begins a huge theological storm after Jesus heals a blind man. The belief that illness … read more

Encountering Luke In today’s Gospel lesson, Jesus is out on the boundary between his place of origin, Galilee, and that shadowy place known as Samaria. There he meets a… read more