Secrets of the Kingdom

“Secrets of the Kingdom”
A reflection on Matthew 13:10-17
(cf. Luke 8:10; Mark 4:11-12)
Thursday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
©️2022 Gloria M. Chang

The disciples approached him and said, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” He said to them in reply, “Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted. To

Read the rest

Isaiah 61, Day 1

“Isaiah 61, Day 1” (2 panels)
Isaiah 61:1
©️2020 by Gloria M. Chang

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me;
He has sent me to bring good news to the afflicted,
to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
release to the prisoners,

To announce a year of favor from the Lord
and a day of vindication by our God.

Read the rest

Jubilee, Day 9

“Jubilee, Day 9”
©️2021 by Gloria M. Chang

This Jubilee series began with wonder about the inscription on the Liberty Bell at the Pennsylvania State House from Leviticus 25:10: “Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants thereof.”

Biblical freedom has as its final aim liberation from slavery to sin and communion with God, and thus ultimately transcends this world and its political systems.… Read the rest

Jubilee, Day 5

“Jubilee, Day 5”
©️2021 by Gloria M. Chang

Then the Lord said to Moses: Go to Pharaoh and tell him: Thus says the Lord: Let my people go to serve me.

Exodus 7:26 (NABRE; 8:1 in other translations)

For the Israelites belong to me as servants; they are my servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt, I, the Lord, your God.

Read the rest

Jubilee, Day 4

Jubilee, Day 4”
©️2021 by Gloria M. Chang

True freedom is not autonomy, but fidelity to the Lord. The Anointed One who came to “proclaim liberty to captives” in Jubilee fashion (Luke 4:18) took the form of a slave and became obedient to death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:7-8). … Read the rest

Jubilee, Day 2

“Jubilee, Day 2”
©️2021 by Gloria M. Chang

The laws of the Sabbath day, Sabbatical year, and Jubilee year give shape to our total existence as humans interdependent with the land, animals, and plants. Setting aside one day out of seven, one year out of seven, and one year out of seven times seven years to rest from labor, allowing even the land to rest, declares the sovereignty of God and the primacy of worship.… Read the rest

Jubilee, Day 1

“Jubilee, Day 1”
©️2021 by Gloria M. Chang

Shalom Snail is embarking on a novena of reflections on the year of Jubilee in Leviticus 25, and the meaning of liberty derived from it. This series was inspired by the inscription on the Liberty Bell at the Pennsylvania State House.… Read the rest

Freedom to Follow

Jesus teaching his disciples. From a 1684 Arabic manuscript of the Gospels, copied in Egypt by Ilyas Basim Khuri Bazzi Rahib (likely a Coptic monk). In the collection of The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, MD. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Saturday of the Third Week of Easter

John 6:60-69

Then many of his disciples who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” 

Read the rest

Lessons from an Axe

Assyrian Relief Attack on Enemy Town from Kalhu (Nimrud) Central Palace during the reign of Tiglath-Pileser III (British Museum). Licensed by Allan Gluck under CC-BY-4.0

15th Week in Ordinary Time, Wednesday (Year II)

Isaiah 10:5-7, 13b-16; Matthew 11:25-27

Thus says the LORD: Woe to Assyria!Read the rest