Bob's Beanfield

Creation can be described as God bringing order out of chaos. A symbol of chaos in the Old Testament was the Sea, or the Waters. Out of the waters, God calls land and life and humanity. Similarly, the chaos of anarchy can be made orderly by rules. Yet in today's world, we often hear about how rules are not really absolute. While there are many rules that are flexible, there are also others that are true for all time. Moral relativism is a fallacy. What does God ask of us? In fact, He asks us to be faithful. He doesn't necessarily call us to be successful. We'll hear about these and other challenging paradoxes in today's readings and commentary.

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.

As we continue our Lenten journey, today we hear some familiar stories from the Bible. First, the story of Abraham and his son Isaac, and how Abraham did not withhold his only son from God. That one is a little hard for us to understand, so Dr. Kreeft's explanations will be a great help. We also hear the same story we hear every year on the second Sunday of Lent, namely the story of the Transfiguration. We may have heard that one often enough that we think we have a good understanding of it, and indeed we may. However, I would challenge you to listen carefully, both to the reading and to the commentary, and see what new thing you can 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.

As we begin this Lenten season, it is a good thing to consider why Jesus came in the first place. He came to suffer the Passion, and to die, in order that we might live. How does that work? We might be tempted to think of God as having a need to be satisfied for our sins, but that doesn't quite work. It has more to do with His love. He has, from ancient times, established covenants with humans. Covenants are not like contracts. They aren't just legal requirements. They make those involved actually related to each other. We'll hear about one of God's covenants this week, and we'll hear about Jesus as the Way to the Father and heaven. And how His ministry all began after the Baptism in the Jordan.

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.

This week we hear again about something that very few of us in this day and age have ever witnessed, namely leprosy. It shows up both in the first reading and in the Gospel. And of course, we typically realize that it is in Scripture for us primarily as an allegory, a symbol of sin. So on this final Sunday of Ordinary Time before Lent, it seems particularly appropriate to reflect on how sin impacts us, and what Jesus does about it. We'll hear more about some of the differences in Catholic and Protestant teachings about sin 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.

One of the age old questions man has faced for time immemorial is, why do bad things happen to good people? Many of those who profess to be atheists even use that as an argument against the existence of God…how could a good God allow such terrible things? The answers are not simple, nor are they what we would necessarily expect. Along with these questions, we have to also ask what God does about these things? We'll hear some thoughts about those deep questions in today's readings and commentary.

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 all face temptation in life. Sometimes temptation becomes more of an obsession, and in extreme cases, we believe that it can even lead us to be possessed by evil, by the devil himself. The good news, though, is that the Word of God, who is a person, can stop evil, whether simple temptation, or full blown possession. How does God send us His word? In so many ways…in Mass, in Eucharist, in Scripture, in those around us, in nature. We sometimes need to just be quiet and listen for the voice of God to hear His word, in whatever form He chooses to send it.

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 know that the Bible is true, because it is the Word of God, and God does not lie. What do we do when we come across a seeming contradiction? How do we know when the stories or words are literal, and when are they allegorical? There are several different senses in which we read the Sacred Scriptures, and how do we know when to think one way or the other? We'll hear about that today, and also a bit about why we hear the word "Immediately" so very often in the Gospel of Mark, which some have called the Gospel of urgency.

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 are back in Ordinary Time now. Today's first reading is one of my favorites. It talks about Samuel hearing the voice of God and not recognizing it. To myself, I wonder how often I may have missed hearing God trying to tell me something, and Him saying to Himself, I have to keep calling Bob 3 and 4 times; maybe I'll just hit him upside the head with a 2 by 4! OK, so maybe God doesn't think like that, but I certainly feel like sometimes that's how dense I can be. Part of reading Scripture is learning to hear God speak, which is another good reason to keep listening to these commentaries. Jesus asks in today's Gospel what it is the disciples are looking for. And we have to ask ourselves that as well. What are we looking for, and how do we hear God?

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.

This episode includes the readings and commentary for the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord. While not a Holy Day of Obligation, it is a good way to end the Christmas Season and begin that time of the year we call "ordinary", meaning numbered, not plain. It is the beginning of the Ministry of Jesus, and from here we begin to learn about His life and His mission. This is a good time for us to also think about our life and our mission, which began for us at our baptism.

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.

What is it that we seek? What are we looking for? How do we know when we find it? These questions are things we might want to think deeply on. Jesus asks his first disciples that question when they see him being baptized by John the Baptist. And we can ask ourselves that also about the Magi, the Wise Men. What were they looking for?

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.