As we celebrate the holiday of Thanksgiving in the United States, it seems fitting to take a look at the topic of giving thanks as it’s treated in the Scriptures. For those of us who are Catholic, this topic is of special importance because it lends its name to the …

In the Gospel According to Matthew 25:14–30 (NABRE), Jesus tells a parable about servants who are given charge of a portion of their master’s wealth during his absence. Two invest prudently while one doesn’t. To the two with whom the master is satisfied, he promises increased responsibility and invites them …

The Book of Wisdom 6:12–16 (NABRE) describes many positive attributes of wisdom. This deuterocanonical book is one of the last written in the Old Testament and clearly shows the influence of Greek thought on the Jewish mindset. For many Greeks, wisdom was one of the deepest held and most highly …

In the Gospel According to Matthew 22:40 (NABRE), Jesus makes a fascinating point that’s easy to misinterpret when he says: “The whole law and prophets depend on these two commandments.” The word depend here carries a lot of weight and suggests an interesting dependency. The Greek verb that is translated …

In the Gospel According to Matthew 22:36 (NABRE), a lawyer asks Jesus an extremely important question: “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” Beyond giving us Jesus’ answer and insight into God’s view of the meaning and purpose of Old Testament events, this question also gives us an …

The Letter to the Philippians 4:13 (NABRE) contains Paul’s familiar statement, “I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me.” (The RSVCE translation is perhaps more familiar: “I can do all things in him who strengthens me.” Immediately prior to that verse in the Letter to the Philippians …

The idea of becoming perfect and complete as a person is a spiritual goal for all Christians. Jesus’ instruction to his disciples found in the Gospel According to Matthew 5:48 (NABRE) to “be perfect just as your heavenly father is perfect” remains a call that applies to us all. What …

In the Gospel According to Luke 20:27–38 (NABRE), Jesus talks with the Sadducees about resurrection. In the Gospels, resurrection is an interesting term that is connected with eternal life but not synonymous with it. The Greek word for resurrection is ἀνάστασις (anastasis). This word literally means “standing up” and so also means …

In the Second Letter to the Thessalonians 1:11—2:2 (NABRE), Paul prays that God may make the Thessalonians worthy of their calling. This is quite a significant ask. In our society where we so often feed a sense of entitlement to whatever it is that we want, any sense of worthiness …

In the first chapter of his First Letter of Paul to Timothy (NABRE), Paul describes how he was a blasphemer and a sinner and how God treated him mercifully—emphasizing the great mercy of God and our tremendous need before him. The Greek word ἔλεος (eleos), “pity” or mercy, suggests kindness …