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 …

In the Gospel According to Matthew 16:13 (NABRE), Jesus asks his disciples who people think the Son of Man is. Their various replies include John the Baptist, Elijah, and Jeremiah. Jesus then asks who the disciples think that he is. Only Simon Peter replies: “You are the Messiah, the Son …

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 to Abraham’s descendants. So what exactly is it? In Greek and Latin, blessing ultimately has to do with speaking well …

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 Jesus going to look like? The Greek word δόξα (doxa) translated as glory is related to a verb meaning “to expect,” “to seem,” or “to …

What does it mean to worship and serve God in heaven? What does heaven look like, and what will we be doing if we make it there? In the seventh chapter of the book of Revelation (NABRE), we see a great multitude before the throne of God. What exactly this …

Why would Jesus distinguish between philia and agape when asking Peter about love? The Gospel According to John 21:15–19 (NABRE) contains one of the most interesting translation issues in the whole of Scripture, the discussion between Jesus and Peter as they talk back and forth about the notion of love. What …

Divine Mercy Sunday, sanctioned by Pope St. John Paul II and dedicated to the vision of God’s love as revealed to St. Faustina Kowalska, is celebrated by the Church on the first Sunday following Easter. The Greek word for mercy, ἔλεος (heleos), can also be translated as “pity” or “compassion.” …

Paul’s Letter to the Philippians 2:6-11 (NABRE) contains a well-known and powerful description of Jesus. In the opening of this passage, Paul describes Jesus as being in the form of God. What does that say about Jesus? The Greek word for form, μορφή (morphe), describes and refers to outward appearance. …

The Gospel According to John 8:1–11 (NABRE) highlights sin and consequence in the account of the woman taken in adultery. The Jewish leaders have found a sinful woman whom they are using as a trap for Jesus. He can either endorse carrying out the law and get in trouble with …