In recent years, there’s been considerable controversy over the vocabulary we as practicing Christians should use during this season. Should we say “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays” or, more confusingly, go with the British Happy Christmas? The concern over our seasonal greeting is well-intended. In the midst of an ever …

In the Letter to the Philippians 4:6 (NABRE), Paul urges his readers to “have no anxiety,” a powerful statement, though this translation may not capture the full spirit of the original intent. Anxiety involves a fear response and bears much relationship to fear. In that context, this statement seems similar …

In the Gospel According to Luke 3:1–4 (NABRE) and the Gospel According to Matthew 3:1–12 (NABRE), Jesus’ cousin John preaches the importance of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. In the system of the Old Covenant, forgiveness occurred when something of value was traded in payment for a debt that …

The Book of Jeremiah 33:16 (NABRE) contains a promise of safety and security in the land. It often can seem to us as Christians that such security is impossible. The model of the early Church of suffering and martyrdom for Christ suggests anything but security, and yet this concept is …

The Book of Daniel 7:13 (NABRE) contains the significant phrase “one like a son of man” later adopted by Jesus in the Gospels to describe himself. Interestingly, this phrase is of Aramaic origin. The Book of Daniel is one of the later writings of the Old Testament with some sections …

The Letter to the Hebrews 10:14 (NABRE) contains an important description of Jesus’ priesthood: “For by one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated.” There’s a fascinating view of the difference between perfection and consecration as well as an interesting breakdown of the timing of each. …

The Letter to the Hebrews 9:28 (NABRE) contains a description of what Jesus Christ achieved in his first coming and a promise of what he will bring when he comes again: “So also Christ, offered once to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to …

The book of Deuteronomy 6:4 (NABRE) features a prayer that the Jewish tradition calls the Shema. It begins: “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone!” This prayer takes its name from the Hebrew word that opens the prayer, שְׁמַע (shema), a word that means “hear, listen, …

The Letter to the Hebrews 5:2–3 (NABRE) presents a powerful and potentially problematic view of Jesus—”for he himself is beset by weakness, and so, for this reason, must make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people.” The implication of this passage seems to be that Jesus experiences …

One of the more familiar Old Testament messianic prophecies of the Old Testament appears in the Book of Isaiah 53:10 (USCCB): “If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through …