We often talk about viewing the Gospels through the eyes of a first-century Jewish man or woman, and today’s readings are a great example of that. From the “colt” “on which no one has ever sat” to the Psalm response, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me,” and from the words that instituted the Eucharist to Jesus’s death at precisely 3 pm, there is much to unpack in today’s Dad Talk.

Today's wonderful Gospel reading about Lazarus invites many questions: Why did Jesus wait “two days” after learning Lazarus was sick? Why did Jesus weep, and why was he “perturbed” when he arrived in Bethany? And what does all this have to do with Ezekiel’s prophecy in the first reading, or Paul’s promise in the second reading? Answers to all these questions—and more—in today’s Dad Talk.

Today is the "Second Scrutiny" for our Catechumens and Candidates, and we hear another amazing passage from the Gospel of John about Jesus healing a blind man. A legal inquiry takes place, but who is actually on trial here? We'll discuss that - and the theme of baptism that runs through this Sunday's readings - in today's Dad Talk.

Today is the First Scrutiny for our Catechumens and Candidates, and that means the story from the Gospel of John involving the Samaritan woman at the well. Every year, this is one of my favorite Dad Talks because it allows us to explore the significance of the woman having “five husbands” and what Jesus is thirsting for when he asks her to give him a drink.

SO many questions from today's readings. What's significant about the type and age of animals God asks Abraham to sacrifice? Why does Abraham cut the animals in half—but not the birds—so the torch can pass through them? How do Peter, James, and John recognize Moses and Elijah at the Transfiguration? Why does Peter want to make tents for them? Why does Luke then remark that Peter didn't know what he was saying? In Philippians, why does Paul refer to someone's stomach as being their god? We'll answer all those questions and more in today's Dad Talk.

Today's Gospel reading tells us about Jesus's temptation in the desert, revealing that Jesus is reversing the Original Sin committed in the Garden of Eden. It also provides a template for the Lenten practices that will lead us to holiness: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. We'll discuss all this—and how Satan punks himself by trying to quote scripture to Jesus—in today's Dad Talk.

Today's readings share a common theme: fruits. But what must we do to bear good fruits, and how will we know when we're succeeding? We'll discuss those answers in today's Dad Talk, as we prepare for Lent to begin. God bless! Dad

David steals a spear from Saul only to give it back again. Jesus explains how we’ll all be “measured.” And Paul’s letter says we shall bear the image of Jesus, the “last Adam.”  What could these diverse readings possibly have to do with each other?  We’ll put all the pieces together – and share a bonus story about Grandpa Bob – in today’s Dad Talk.

Today’s Psalm, first reading, and Gospel all share a common theme: in whom do you trust? And the second reading reveals the consequences of that choice. We’ll discuss all that in today’s Dad Talk, and as a bonus, we’ll explore the difference between the Sermon on the Mount and the Sermon on the Plain (besides the view).God bless!

Dad

Lots of questions from today’s readings. What’s the significance of Isaiah’s “lips” being unclean? Why did Paul mention the resurrected Jesus appearing to so many people? Where is the Lake of Gennesaret that Luke mentions in his Gospel? And why are we hearing a second reading about the resurrectionbeforethe Lent and Easter season? We'll answer those questions and more in today’s Dad Talk.