Content with a Soul
Throughout Matthew’s Gospel, his former life as a tax collector shows through in the parables and moments he chose to preserve. It is a testimony to how God uses the lens of our ordinary work to reveal deeper truths. And the confrontation between the Pharisees and Jesus in Matthew 22:15–21 is no exception. In it, … Read more
Hearing Saint Paul write to the Philippians of contentment, of knowing both abundance and humble circumstance, my mind turns naturally to wedding vows. In good times and in bad, for richer, for poorer. We recognize that cadence because it is the language of covenant. Paul’s endurance is not stoic grit or a spiritual crutch; it … Read more
“Actions speak louder than words” – a common phrase, and one underscored by Jesus in the parable of the two sons. One says no to his father but does the work, while the other agrees but never goes into the vineyard. As Jesus points out, the first son is the one who did his duty. … Read more
The parable of the vineyard workers in Matthew’s Gospel cuts against our natural instincts about justice. We readily identify with the laborers hired at dawn. They endured the dry heat, put in the twelve-hour shift, and expected their wage to reflect their sweat. When the eleventh-hour arrivals received the exact same payment, resentment followed immediately. … Read more
Do unto others as you wish to be treated, in all ways. This is an easy rule when framed by our expectations of what is owed to us. However, it becomes demanding when the perspective reverses, when the mirror turns around. In that moment, we often fall into the trap Jesus describes to Peter in … Read more
It is remarkably difficult to forgive, which is precisely why Christ made it a command rather than a suggestion. While His instruction in Matthew’s Gospel focuses primarily on extending grace to others, there is a quieter, and sometimes more demanding frontier we must eventually cross: the grace to forgive ourselves. I often find that the … Read more
“What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” How often have we heard this phrase, in one form or another? Countless times. It rings true at the time, but then Monday morning comes. I am back at work, sliding into the familiar routine, and it is easy … Read more
Jesus’s proclamation that the Church will be built on Peter is intriguing, because Jesus says that Peter’s faith is the reason, not his strength, courage, nor any other skill or trait. This doesn’t mean that Peter will never falter, as we know that he does. But it shows that deep down, this anchor of faith … Read more
How do we approach the “weeds” in our lives? In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells the parable of the weeds and the wheat. A farmer sows good seed, but in the night, an enemy sows weeds among it. When the servants ask if they should immediately pull the weeds, the master tells them no, … Read more
We often overlook preparation and patience as we rush to find answers and solutions. And yet, Jesus reminds us of the profound importance of these two traits through the parable of the sower. The Necessity of Worked Soil When we are building or growing anything of value, preparation is critical, because the sower reaps the … Read more