Shepherds were very common in Jesus’ time and in the area where Jesus went about preaching and teaching. So, it made sense to use them as concrete images for his teaching. In the Old Testament Jewish Kings and other political and religious leaders were describes as...
Today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles is the story of St. Paul’s call or conversion. We have three accounts of Paul’s conversion in Acts (9:1-18; 22:3-16; 26:2-18) as well as Paul’s own description of his experience on the road to Damascus: “For you...
In today’s Gospel Jesus once again solemnly declares: “I am the bread of life.” Jesus himself gives the gift of eternal life to those who come to him and believe in him. Jesus fulfills our deepest longings as he has proclaimed just a few verses earlier: “I am the...
Today’s Gospel is the beginning of what is commonly called the “Bread of Life Discourse.” In this discourse Jesus declares: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” (John 6:34). This discourse...
In today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we hear the sage advice of Rabbi Gamaliel, a Pharisee and renowned teacher of the law in Jerusalem. He was also the teacher of St. Paul as he himself testifies later in Acts: “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in...
