"I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world."– Matt. 13:35
Moses promised the people another “prophet like me” would be sent to speak the words of the Lord God [Deut. 18:15]. After the terrifying experience at Sinai where Yahweh landed in fire and clouds of smoke, complete with thunder, lightning, trumpettings and other special effects, the people were understandably reluctant to have to endure something…
Traditional Catholic teaching states that during the Mass, the bread and wine are mysteriously transformed into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. In Catholicism, this miraculous change is called “transubstantiation.” This means that once the sacred words of Consecration are spoken there is a real, total cosmic transmutation of the blessed elements. Even if…
If one goes looking for secret meanings in the Bible, the parables of Jesus are the most logical place to begin. By definition, they conceal secrets, for a parable is a story that makes its point by hiding it beneath another superficial story, after all. Yet, Jesus apparently never had any hope that all those…
A parable is a short allegorical tale from which the listener is expected to take a lesson. It is a literary form related to poetry, fables, wise sayings, and edifying and instructional literature in general, in that a parable seeks to impart helpful information under the guise of an interesting story. But while a parable…
There are many mysteries surrounding the Last Supper. Why the sneaky, obviously pre-arranged business of sending the disciples to looking for a man carrying water to provide a place for the meal (Mk. 14:13-15)? What kind of meal was it – an ordinary dinner with Jesus and his closest disciples (as John said) or the…