The Church annually celebrates Sunday of the Word of God in late January to reflect on the extraordinary gift of God’s word. The Bible or the Scriptures make up a central part of Christian worship because they uniquely reveal God to us through God’s own inspiration. While these writings are …

The Gospel According to John 2:1–11 (NABRE) features the wedding at Cana and an odd exchange between Jesus and his mother. In this exchange, Mary comes to Jesus with a problem, Jesus seems to be dismissive of her concern, and then ultimately he does what she asks with no further …

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 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 …