In the eleventh chapter of the Letter to the Hebrews (NABRE), we encounter a familiar statement about faith that is often cited as a definition: “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” This statement offers significant insight into faith and its relationship …

“Vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!” We encounter this well-known passage in the Book of Ecclesiastes (NABRE). In this passage, the author relates to all of life as vanity, a concept that many have found very relatable over time. While we intuitively have a sense of what this passage …

In this week’s liturgy, the readings focus on Jesus teaching his disciples about prayer. In the Gospel According to Luke 11:1–13 (NABRE), Jesus has been discussing mistakes people make when they pray. As a remedy, Jesus offers the Lord’s Prayer, which Catholics often refer to as the “Our Father.” What …

Being anxious is something everyone experiences now and then. In the Gospel According to Luke 10:38-42 (NABRE), Jesus chastises Martha for having many cares or anxieties, a condition many in our world today can relate to. What exactly is it about Martha’s behavior that Jesus sees as less than ideal? …

Who is your neighbor? The setup to the parable of the Good Samaritan in the Gospel According to Luke 10:25–29 (NABRE) presents an interesting linguistic anomaly that arises between the Hebrew Old Testament and the first Greek translation of it, the Septuagint. Jesus and a scholar of the law are discussing …

In the tenth chapter of the Gospel According to Luke (NABRE), Jesus sends out 72 disciples to deliver a message of peace. Throughout the Old and New Testaments, the concept of peace is used in a variety of ways and has many meanings—ranging from the absence of war to harmony between neighbors …

The fifth chapter of the Letter to the Galatians (NABRE) focuses on spirit and flesh. We see there a clear contrast between living in the spirit and living in the flesh, with the strong suggestion that the two are mutually exclusive. What makes these two things opposed, and what is …

The book of Genesis 14:18-20 (NABRE) describes Melchizedek blessing Abraham. This blessing is foundational in the Old Testament as it establishes a relationship between Abraham and God that is extended also to Abraham’s descendants. So what exactly is it? In Greek and Latin, blessing ultimately has to do with speaking …

In the Gospel According to John 14:26 (NABRE), we encounter Jesus’ well-known description of the Holy Spirit as the Advocate or Counselor. This view of the Holy Spirit is essential to the Evangelist’s view of the role of the third person of the Most Holy Trinity, so it’s worthwhile to …

The Gospel According to John 13:31–35 (NABRE) looks ahead to when Jesus will be glorified. What exactly does Jesus mean by that, and what is it that Jesus is going to look like? The Greek word δόξα (doxa) translated as glory is related to a verb meaning “to expect,” “to …