A parable, like a short story, has a beginning, a plot, a set of characters, a complete thought, and an ending. With such a clear, simple structure, its tempting to take these stories on their own, outside the context of the broader story. To help illustrate this point, in this week’s podcast, Richard and Fr….
Category: The Bible as Literature
Happily Ever After?
In this week’s episode, Richard and Fr. Marc reflect on the parable of the wedding feast in the gospel of Matthew. When the host’s invitations are rejected by his would be guests–some of whom went so far as to mistreat and then murder his servants–it seems obvious why some are chosen and others are cast…
Out of Egypt
What does the nation Egypt represent in the Bible? When Scripture mentions Egypt, Assyria, or any country, is it talking about historical empires, or is something more going on? What happens when we understand the nations mentioned in the Bible as characters in a story? Is Egypt a good or a bad character? What is…
Are You Rich?
This week, Fr. Marc and Richard reflect on the story of the rich young man in Matthew 19. Why was it wrong for the young man to call Jesus “good?” Beyond the obvious problem of greed, what does the young man’s wealth reveal about the aims of false religion? Why wasn’t Jesus pleased to hear…
Live from St. Cloud
In this week’s episode, Fr. Marc and Richard discuss the way in which St. Paul uses the categories “weak” and “strong” to undermine human judgment in 1 Corinthians. This sets the stage for God to shame the church in Roman Corinth with the foolishness of Paul’s weakness. It also set the stage for a lecture…
Not Before the Time
What is the biblical response to poverty, violence and suffering in the world? How does the biblical commandment to love the neighbor differ from progressive ideas of social justice? In this week’s episode, Fr. Marc and Richard explore St. Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 4 and the way in which the Bible undermines human paradigms…
Stay as You Are
In this week’s episode, Fr. Marc and Richard discuss the painful but critical role that slavery and hierarchy play in St. Paul’s epistles. Reflecting on the same teaching in Older Testament, they explore how the freedom proposed by the Pauline articulation of the Cross differs from popular concepts of social freedom. While the gospel seeks…
Our Daily Bread
Fr. Marc interviews Richard about a sermon he recently presented on Matthew 14:14-22 and 1 Corinthians 1:10-18. Richard explains how in both readings, the American obsession with “being special,” is undermined by the Bible’s critique of the natural but deceptive human impulse to seek differentiation either through personal achievement or affiliation. (Episode 29)
Jesus Goes to High School
According to a 2014 study published by the National Education Association, approximately 160,000 teens skip school every day because of bullying. In many cases, the experience of cruelty or isolation in American schools has led young people to commit suicide or worse. What are the implications of the New Testament for American high schools? How…
Do Not Heal Thyself
In the gospel of Luke (4:22-30) Jesus warns his own people that “no prophet is accepted in his own country.” Hearers of the story usually equate this with the demeaning American expression, “who do you think are?” In fact, Jesus’ people esteem his position, coveting the benefits of his honor for themselves. Working through the…