A Daily Lent

Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent Daily Reading : John 7:40 – 53 Focus Passage : Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, "Why didn't you bring him in?" "No one ever spoke the way this man does," the guards replied. "You mean he has deceived you also?" the Pharisees retorted. "Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them." Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, "Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?" They replied, "Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee." Then they all went home. (Jn. 7:45 – 53) I spent many years engaging in debate about Jesus. It was a fairly satisfying way to...

The Third Sunday of Lent Daily Reading : Luke 13:1 – 9 Focus Passage : Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish." (Lk. 13:1 – 5) The story and parable have an odd and convoluted sense about them, especially for those of us disconnected by centuries from the events to which the narrative alludes. First, notice that Jesus addressed a general group of people, “some present at that time.” The audience was not disciples, scribes and Pharisees, or the Sadducees, but a more general, more amb...