Bob's Beanfield

Do you have something in your life that you consider a thorn in your side? Or perhaps someone? Do you complain about it? Perhaps you've asked the Lord to deal with it for you. Have you ever thought about thanking God for it? Today we hear about St. Paul's thorn in his side, and we also hear about some people that Jesus, at least His human nature, may have considered a thorn in His side.

Note that Scripture readings are from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition, Copyright Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., used with permission. Commentary copyright Peter Kreeft, published by Word on Fire, used with permission.

I have had the privilege of being in the Holy Land twice. There is a place there that has been recently excavated on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, and that place is Magdala. A shrine and conference center has been built there, and it is an amazing place to visit. One of the Chapels has a large mural of a large number of feet, with one hand reaching to touch the tassels of the cloak of someone walking by. We'll hear about that story today. It is an inspiring picture, which I now have a copy of in my home. I'd encourage you to look it up and see it. It tells the story of the woman who had no fear, and just trusted in the Lord. Let's keep that thought in mind as we listen to today's episode.

Note that Scripture readings are from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition, Copyright Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., used with permission. Commentary copyright Peter Kreeft, published by Word on Fire, used with permission.

Last week we heard a lot about plants. This week we will hear a lot about the sea and storms. Who doesn't experience storms in their lives? And as we hear the story of Jesus handling the storm for the disciples, they wonder then, Who is this that even the winds and seas obey? We know the answer to that, of course, but do we live like that is true?

Note that Scripture readings are from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition, Copyright Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., used with permission. Commentary copyright Peter Kreeft, published by Word on Fire, used with permission.

Today we will hear all the readings first together, then the commentary, as they are all pretty well tied together by the theme of a plant. We'll hear the details about that in the commentary, but I am reminded of God's presence in nature here in my own area, where we are experiencing the emergence of two different cohorts of cicadas. That makes it a noisy time, and there are lots of cicada shells around, as well as a lot of the animals themselves. God created them, and we can learn a lot from them.

Note that Scripture readings are from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition, Copyright Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., used with permission. Commentary copyright Peter Kreeft, published by Word on Fire, used with permission.

We now turn back to the Liturgical Season known as "Ordinary Time". It is not called that because it is routine and mundane, but because it is numbered, ordinal is another word for numbered. We skip some of the numbers because of the timing of the calendars, so today we are in the 10th Sunday of Ordinary Time, and the readings seem very appropriate to the start of this season, now that we have completed Easter and Pentecost. We go back to the beginning, back to the Garden, and we also hear how Jesus was so badly misunderstood by so many. There is a lot to learn!

Note that Scripture readings are from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition, Copyright Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., used with permission. Commentary copyright Peter Kreeft, published by Word on Fire, used with permission.

Today is the Feast of Corpus Christi, the Body of Christ. We celebrate something that we probably take a bit for granted, the daily miracle of the Eucharist. How we can consume God Himself is incomprehensible, and yet we believe it to be true. At least most of us do. I know many Catholics say they don't believe in the Real Presence, but it is an article of our faith that the bread and wine become the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus, who is God. If we truly understood that, it would change our lives.

Note that Dr. Kreeft's commentary is on all the readings together, so we'll read all the Scriptures first then hear the commentary thereafter.

Also note that Scripture readings are from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition, Copyright Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., used with permission. Commentary copyright Peter Kreeft, published by Word on Fire, used with permission.

The central mystery of our faith is the Holy Trinity. God is three persons, yet one God. How can that be? You might just as well ask how God could create the entire universe out of nothing. Both of those are facts of our faith, yet our ability to understand them is practically nonexistant. Yet, we somehow believe. And that is enough. That is what faith means…the hope of things unseen, or in this case, not understood.

Note that Scripture readings are from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition, Copyright Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., used with permission. Commentary copyright Peter Kreeft, published by Word on Fire, used with permission.

Pentecost is commonly thought of as the Birthday of the Church. In some ways, it is, and in some ways, it is the birthday of the Holy Spirit, who came to the Church that day! Like Christmas is Christ's birthday, Pentecost is the start of something spectacular! There is so much symbolism in both the day and in the readings, so let's listen now to what the Scriptures and commentary have to say.

Note that Scripture readings are from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition, Copyright Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., used with permission. Commentary copyright Peter Kreeft, published by Word on Fire, used with permission.

We've been in the Easter Season for quite a while now. Today we begin to transition. Easter is the most glorious and mysterious event in all of history, but what happens next continues to be important. Jesus ascends back to heaven to His and Our Father, and commissions the disciples to go forth, but not until the coming of the Holy Spirit, which we will hear about next week at Pentecost. So let's hear about this time of transition from the post-resurrection ecstasy to the start of current times.

Note that Scripture readings are from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition, Copyright Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., used with permission. Commentary copyright Peter Kreeft, published by Word on Fire, used with permission.

The Easter Season continues, and this week could easily be mistaken for Valentine's Day. Why? Because all the readings are about love! The reflections talk a LOT about love, and they delve deeply in to what love is, the various kinds of love, and they then help us to understand what the Scriptures are talking about, especially when they tell us that God IS love.

Note that Scripture readings are from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition, Copyright Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., used with permission. Commentary copyright Peter Kreeft, published by Word on Fire, used with permission.

Intro 0:00

First reading 2:35

Commentary on First Reading 3:50

Psalm 11:46

Commentary on Psalm 12:47

Second Reading 19:40

Commentary on Second Reading 20:30

Gospel 41:15

Commentary on Gospel 42:35

Conclusion 1:04:23