Category: blog post
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– by Jean Allen This is one Gospel I’d be extremely leery of taking literally as written without taking into consideration the context plus Jesus’s overarching mission. Jesus told his followers how to deal with someone who sins against them: speak to them and if that doesn’t work, take witnesses to speak to them and…
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– by Jean Allen “Get behind me, Satan!” Who among us has not thought, “Whoa! That’s a pretty harsh thing to say to a concerned friend!” Perhaps it would be less of an over-the-top insult and more accurate if the translation had been, “Get behind me, Peter. Don’t tempt me with your worldly perception of…
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– by Jean Allen The place where Jesus asked his famous questions, “Who do people say that I am?” and, “Who do you say that I am?” was Caesarea Philippi, which was the seat of Roman power. His questions were meant to contrast worldly power with the power of himself, which in most people’s eyes…
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by Jean Allen The Gospel of the Canaanite woman begging Jesus to heal her daughter, arguing that even dogs eat the crumbs from the table, is a tough one to digest. However, I fully believe Jesus knew he was going to heal the daughter and his resistance to the woman was an object lesson to…
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by Jean Allen Every time I read the Gospel about Peter attempting to walk on the water, I always question whether the words, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” were spoken just to Peter or if Jesus was including all the disciples. Obviously, Jesus spoke the words loud enough so they could all…
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-by Jean Allen The compassion of Jesus is indescribable. He had just had news of John’s death and he was grieving deeply. He needed to go and be alone for a while. He needed to speak to his Father. But the crowds, unaware of his grief and need, followed him in huge numbers because they…
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by Jean Allen It is interesting to me that the disciples asked Jesus to explain the parable of the landowner who sowed good seed in his field but an enemy came and sowed weeds, but they didn’t ask about the parables of the mustard seed or the woman who mixed yeast with the flour until…
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July 12, 2026 reflection by Jean Allen
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by Jean Allen “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls.” In Jesus’s time, a yoke meant the teachings of a particular rabbi. Jesus is inviting us to be followers of his teachings and he is still dealing…
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by Jean Allen “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me;” The Greek word for ‘worthy’ in this text is ‘axios’ and axios translates generally into what we expect: ‘fitting or suitable’. But another definition that fits this text even better is: “of equal weight or value’. Are you of…
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