Fr. Scott Lewis, S.J
Fr. Scott Lewis is an associate professor of New Testament at Regis College, a founding member of the Toronto School of Theology.
He is a past president of the Canadian Catholic Biblical Association.
He is a past president of the Canadian Catholic Biblical Association.
April 16, 2009
Jesus’ Divine gift
Third Sunday of Easter (Year B) April 26 (Acts 3:13-15, 17-19; Psalm 4; 1 John 2:1-5; Luke 24:35-48)
Peter might be forgiven a little smugness as he narrates the story of the passion and death of Jesus to some of those responsible. To be accused of rejecting the Holy and Righteous One and killing the Author of life is no small thing and the words must have hit home with a number of his audience.
Peter might be forgiven a little smugness as he narrates the story of the passion and death of Jesus to some of those responsible. To be accused of rejecting the Holy and Righteous One and killing the Author of life is no small thing and the words must have hit home with a number of his audience.
Published in
Fr. Scott Lewis
April 24, 2009
Jesus won't disappoint us
Fourth Sunday of Easter (Year B) May 3 (Acts 4:7-12; Psalm 118; 1 John 3:1-2; John 10:11-18)
In struggles for survival and power intelligent and compassionate dialogue is often the first victim. Words uttered or written in the heat and polemics of the moment can have a negative and even dangerous afterlife.
In struggles for survival and power intelligent and compassionate dialogue is often the first victim. Words uttered or written in the heat and polemics of the moment can have a negative and even dangerous afterlife.
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Fr. Scott Lewis
May 1, 2009
Love must be our way
Fifth Sunday of Easter (Year B) May 10 (Acts 9:26-31; Psalm 22; 1 John 3:18-24; John 15:1-8)
Who can blame the Jerusalem community for being suspicious of Saul? He hasn’t exactly endeared himself to the Christian movement. By his own admission he was a zealous persecutor, casting many believers into prison and even voting for death on numerous occasions. He was their chief tormentor and persecutor — and now he turns up at their meetings and wants to be accepted!
Who can blame the Jerusalem community for being suspicious of Saul? He hasn’t exactly endeared himself to the Christian movement. By his own admission he was a zealous persecutor, casting many believers into prison and even voting for death on numerous occasions. He was their chief tormentor and persecutor — and now he turns up at their meetings and wants to be accepted!
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Fr. Scott Lewis
May 8, 2009
God plays no favourites
Sixth Sunday of Easter (Year B) May 17 (Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48; Psalm 98; 1 John 4:7-10; John 15:9-17)
How would we feel if we saw God’s Spirit blessing our worst enemy — or one of a group we despise or fear? Would we rejoice or would we be overwhelmed by disbelief and outrage?
How would we feel if we saw God’s Spirit blessing our worst enemy — or one of a group we despise or fear? Would we rejoice or would we be overwhelmed by disbelief and outrage?
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Fr. Scott Lewis
Ascension of the Lord (Year B) May 24 (Acts 1:1-11; Psalm 47; Ephesians 1:17-23; Mark 16:15-20)
How quickly people try to bend the things of God to human ends. The disciples of Jesus have scarcely recovered from the trauma of the crucifixion and the shock of the Resurrection. Jesus had to convince them that He was truly alive. The short post-Resurrection period described in the Gospels is stretched out to 40 days. As His sojourn was ending, they pressed Jesus to finally do what they had been anticipating all along: restore the kingdom of Israel — purify the land — and drive out the hated Romans.
How quickly people try to bend the things of God to human ends. The disciples of Jesus have scarcely recovered from the trauma of the crucifixion and the shock of the Resurrection. Jesus had to convince them that He was truly alive. The short post-Resurrection period described in the Gospels is stretched out to 40 days. As His sojourn was ending, they pressed Jesus to finally do what they had been anticipating all along: restore the kingdom of Israel — purify the land — and drive out the hated Romans.
Published in
Fr. Scott Lewis
May 22, 2009
Spirit is for the common good
Pentecost (Year B) May 31 (Acts 2:1-11; Psalm 104; 1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13; John 20:19-23)
In an extremely polarized and intolerant world, the need for God’s Spirit has never been more acute. Many mistake their own deeply held opinions as the will of God and the only truth.
In an extremely polarized and intolerant world, the need for God’s Spirit has never been more acute. Many mistake their own deeply held opinions as the will of God and the only truth.
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Fr. Scott Lewis
Body and Blood of Christ (Year B) June 14 (Exodus 24:3-8; Psalm 116; Hebrews 9:11-15; Mark 14:12-16, 22-26)
In the ancient world, ratifying covenants and treaties was a rather bloody and messy affair. The rights and responsibilities of each party were clearly articulated, as were dire consequences for non-compliance.
In the ancient world, ratifying covenants and treaties was a rather bloody and messy affair. The rights and responsibilities of each party were clearly articulated, as were dire consequences for non-compliance.
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Fr. Scott Lewis
May 28, 2009
God is always with us
Trinity Sunday (Year B) June 7 (Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40; Psalm 33; Romans 8:14-17; Matthew 28:16-20)
The universe is still in motion from the tremendous force released by creation. With their sophisticated instruments, scientists measure the cosmic reverberations and aftershocks of the Big Bang. After so many billions of years we only detect whispers and traces of that actual moment. But it is still unfolding and we experience its effects daily. Creation continues — the cosmos continues to evolve and we continue to change.
The universe is still in motion from the tremendous force released by creation. With their sophisticated instruments, scientists measure the cosmic reverberations and aftershocks of the Big Bang. After so many billions of years we only detect whispers and traces of that actual moment. But it is still unfolding and we experience its effects daily. Creation continues — the cosmos continues to evolve and we continue to change.
Published in
Fr. Scott Lewis
June 12, 2009
We are always in God's hands
12th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) June 21 (Job 38:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 107; 2 Corinthians 5:14-17; Mark 4:35-41)
The source of much human misery lies in our desire to play God. The universe runs quite well when we allow God to drive the bus — it is only when we think that we can do a better job that everything begins to go wrong.
The source of much human misery lies in our desire to play God. The universe runs quite well when we allow God to drive the bus — it is only when we think that we can do a better job that everything begins to go wrong.
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Fr. Scott Lewis
June 22, 2009
God is life
13th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) June 28 (Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24; Psalm 30; 2 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15; Mark 5:21-43)
Don’t blame God for death, it wasn’t His idea! Or so the author of Wisdom claims. It’s a very strange statement, for all that lives eventually dies. Living organisms experience entropy and finally return to the dust of the earth.
Don’t blame God for death, it wasn’t His idea! Or so the author of Wisdom claims. It’s a very strange statement, for all that lives eventually dies. Living organisms experience entropy and finally return to the dust of the earth.
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Fr. Scott Lewis