“Gospel: Jesus reminds his followers that they will face opposition and persecution. So when you forgive someone others won't forgive, help a homeless person others ignore, or advocate for an LGBT person others reject, don't be surprised when people oppose you. In fact, rejoice.”Tagged: gospel, religiosity, fighting for the minority, Fight for what you believe, Empowering
“Gospel: 'My words will not pass away.' No matter what kind of evil is in the world, Jesus's words will endure. Don't despair when it seems like the Gospel is being trampled on, that the poor are forgotten, or that mercy is set aside. Christ is risen and his words are alive.”Tagged: gospel, Inspirational Quote, religiosity, Spirituality, Spiritual Journey
“Gospel: Today four friends bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus, who heals him. Sometimes when we feel stuck, we have to rely on our friends to carry us to God. For the Gospel says, 'When Jesus saw *their* faith,' that is, the faith of the friends. We never come to God alone.”Tagged: gospel, religiosity, Spirituality, spiritual belief, Friends
“Gospel: How can Mary say 'yes' to the Angel's request to bear a child? One way: the Angel points to the example of Elizabeth. Mary would likely have known about her cousin's pregnancy. Thus, the Angel says, 'Look what God has already done. Trust in what God can do in the future.'”Tagged: gospel, religiosity, Spirituality, spiritual enlightenment, Trust God
“Gospel: Jesus says that others are complaining about him: 'Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard!' As my NT professor once told us, people were critiquing Jesus for 'living it up.' Jesus was a joyful man who delighted in the company of other men and women. His way is about joy!”Tagged: gospel, religiosity, Spirituality, spiritual belief, the life of Jesus
“But even if the Holy Family fleeing into Egypt did not meet the current definition of refugees (and they do), modern-day refugee families still deserve our care and protection, because each refugee possesses infinite dignity and worth. They are our sisters and brothers.”Tagged: Refugees, welcome the refugees, Holy Family, Spirituality, religiosity
“Gospel: Jesus was born into a real family. He was divine, his mother conceived without sin, and Joseph a saint, but the rest of his family--aunts and uncles and cousins--were probably ordinary people. So Jesus understands family life. Therefore, he understands your own struggles.”Tagged: jesus, Jesus cares, Jesus understands, religiosity, Spirituality
“Gospel: Jesus is critiqued for eating with 'sinners and tax collectors,' as well as forgiving sins, speaking with women and healing the sick on the Sabbath. But for Jesus nothing should get in the way of proclaiming the Good News--which is the proclamation God's love for everyone.”Tagged: gospel, jesus, religiosity, God Cares, God loves you
“Gospel: Today Jesus says to those who wish to encounter him, 'Come and see!' Where is he inviting us to see him today? In the faces of those who are the most despised and rejected, in the faces of migrants and refugees and all forgotten ones. Come and see him there. He's waiting.”Tagged: gospel, help the poor, help the needy, Compassion, Help others
“Gospel: Jesus plucks the heads of grain for his disciples to eat. He does this in direct contradiction of the law. Why? Because sometimes there are higher values than law. Jesus knows that legalisms cannot get in the way of love or human flourishing. He says this over and over.”Tagged: gospel, Bible, religiosity, Spirituality, Spiritual