"I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world."– Matt. 13:35
Ready for some real old-fashioned deviltry? ‘Tis Hallowe’en, as it used to be written. The Eve of the Feast of All Hallows. This is the beginning of the dark time, where shorter days and colder nights after the harvest have traditionally meant the onset of the hard season of winter. As such, many ancient peoples…
Jesus’ final parable at the end of his first discourse in Matthew from the boat takes advantage of the setting, for it’s all about fishing. Fish and boats become a common theme of his ministry, figuring in so many stories that the fish was adopted later on as a secret symbol of the faith. It…
Along with the Mustard Seed story in Matthew come several other one-liners that are almost as famous. The Good News in his first parables did not seem much like good news, as the gist of those was that the world was going to end and most people would not be saved. But these are found…
One of Jesus’ shorter, but for some reason, best remembered parables, is that of the Mustard Seed. Yet, like many of his better-known images, this one is a little shocking. The seeds of mustard plants can be ground to create the yellow condiment that goes best with hot dogs and the leaves are edible, too.…
The Paris Olympics pretty much lived up to their billing. The organizers planned well; not even a deluge during the opening pageant washed out the show. Gay Paree sparkled as never before. The spectacle was thoroughly French throughout, and fortunately there were few major problems. There were, however, some ominous glitches for those watching carefully…