Jesus personifies the attitude of publicans who do as the publican in the parable of the Pharisee and the publican. The parable shows that Jesus is not unfair at all toward the weak.  He hears the needy of all kinds, the marginalized, the excluded.  Among these, of...

Jesus guarantees absolutely that God will secure justice for his chosen ones who cry out to him with steadfast faith. We know from Jesus’ example and teaching that God’s chosen ones are the poor.  Christ, the Anointed with the Spirit, makes clear that his mission is...

Jesus is our peace.  He breaks down, then, the wall of enmity among Jews, Samaritans and other peoples. Jews and Samaritans hate each other.  Consequently, one group takes the other to be incapable of doing anything good.  When such enmity prevails, a scorned person’s...

We discover in Jesus the vision without which we perish demoralized. It is hard even for those who are faithful to keep faith alive and to take as norm the vision of the kingdom of God and his righteousness.  As in Habakkuk’s case, what drives them to question faith...

Jesus is God's resounding “no” to indifference toward the needy. The parable of the unnamed rich man and poor Lazarus condemns indifference toward the poor and helpless. It is not that the rich man is explicitly unjust. Apparently, it does not bother him that...

Jesus teaches us the creative and wise search first of the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Undoubtedly, the children of this world look for the power and glory of all the kingdoms of the world very shrewdly and in a creative way.  To verify this, one only needs...

Jesus is one with us sinners.  Just like his Father, he takes no pleasure in our death, but rather in our conversion, that we may live. Jesus is concerned about sinners, which shocks the Pharisees and the scribes.  They complain, “This man welcomes sinners and eats...

Jesus guides our feet into the way of the Kingdom of God. Great crowds follow Jesus who is on his way to Jerusalem.  But quality is more important to him than quantity.  Hence, he lays out his demands in a disconcerting way. First, Jesus demands that those who seek...

Jesus is the definitive divine word that teaches us to be humble.  He is also the perfect response of humility to the divine word. Jesus goes to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees.  Since the Pharisees love places of honor at banquets, one can suppose...

Through the tender mercy of God, Jesus visits us to guide our feet into the way of salvation. Someone asks Jesus, “Will only a few be saved?”  The question suggests that the one who asks is worried about salvation. It is possible, however, that he is self-righteous. ...