Christians today tend to think of the age of martyrs in terms of the early centuries of the church with vivid pictures of lions about to devour those who would not deny Christ Yet Karl Rahner once noted that today we should speak not only of martyrs of the faith but also of martyrs of justice Th

The readings touch on the most profound mysteries of Christianity: why do the innocent suffer, why must the followers of Jesus deny themselves and take up their crosses?

While last Sunday rsquo s readings sounded sober warnings today rsquo s readings celebrate the saving deeds of God The reading from Isaiah opens with one of the most frequent biblical commands Fear not and then looks to the divine deliverance from exile when the blind deaf lame and the speechl

Having completed a long tour through John 6 the Lectionary returns to Mark with a dispute between Jesus the Pharisees and some scribes experts in the law over rules to assure purity when eating The readings present something of a paradox The first reading the beginning of the prayer that Jew

The symphony of the bread of life discourse reaches a crescendo with startling hopes and startling claims.

Even the most profound revelation of Jesus, that he is God’s wisdom for humanity and that all who eat his flesh and drink his blood will have fullness of life, does not take away the mystery of human freedom.