I Kings 19: 1-4, (5-7), 8-15a The ongoing conflict between King Ahab and the Lord’s prophet, Elijah, now escalates to direct confrontation with the Queen, Jezebel, the non-Israelite wife of Ahab who retained devotion to her own god, Baal.  Ahad … Continue reading →

LITURGY OF THE PALMS Mark 11: 1-11 In Mark, ( as well as Matthew and Luke), it is noted that Jesus and his followers are near the Mount of Olives, which according to Zechariah 14: 4, is the site of … Continue reading →

Isaiah 43: 1-7 Using the same verb for “create” as in Genesis, the prophet-narrator in the tradition of Isaiah identifies the God of creation as the same God who “created” Jacob and “formed” Israel.  Because of this generous act of … Continue reading →

Numbers 6: 22-27 The Lord instructs Moses to relay to Aaron and his descendants the authority and the precise language for blessing God’s people: to bless and keep, show the Lord’s face and countenance and “give you peace.”  With this … Continue reading →

Genesis 6: 9-22, 7: 2-4, 8: 14-19 A ‘flood story’ was common to many ancient religions and cultures.  It was always a story to signify a new beginning, re-birth, second chance; in the Hebrew scriptures, a “new covenant.”  Usually, the … Continue reading →

Jeremiah 31:31-34 Living through the threat and the actual destruction of Judah/Jerusalem by the Babylonians, Jeremiah relentlessly bemoaned the fate of God’s people and railed against their actions, which he believed brought them to this heart-breaking crisis.  Therefore, the chapters … Continue reading →

I Samuel 8:4-11, (12-15), 16-20, (11:14-15) Despite Samuel’s having been chosen by the Lord as a young boy to supersede  the priestly heritage of Eli and then successfully leading the Israelites against their arch-enemy, the Philistines, “the elders of Israel” … Continue reading →

Malachi 3:1-4 Up to this point in the text attributed to a “Malachi,” (which means messenger), the writer has dwelt on specific failures and specific leaders (“priests”) and all people.  The indifference of all to God’s teachings have caused moral, … Continue reading →

Leviticus 19: 1-2, 9-18 This excerpt from what has come to be called “the Holiness Code,” (chapters 17-26 of Leviticus) instructs Moses to announce to God’s people: “You shall be holy, for I the Lord am holy.”  Then the traits … Continue reading →

I Kings 21: 1-10, (11-14) King Ahab wanted the vineyard of his next door neighbor, Naboth.  He offered to exchange that piece of property for another or pay its fair price.  Naboth rejected the King’s offer for a specific reason: … Continue reading →