America Magazine

Advent Reflections

0 days of Bible Messages

Take an Advent Journey with the editors of ‘America.’ Daily Scripture reflections start on Sunday December 1 and continue until Christmas Eve. Featuring commentary by James Martin S.J., Kerry Weber, Luke Hansen, S.J., Raymond A. Schroth, S.J., and the rest of the ‘America’ staff.

A project of “The Living Word: Scripture in the Life of the Church,” a joint project of ‘America’ and the American Bible Society.

Jesus and the Bullied

7 days of Bible Messages

Bullies and their taunts have plagued vulnerable children—and adults—from the biblical period to our own day. Educators, those in the counseling professions and victims of bullying, have labored in recent years to increase awareness of the soul-destroying effects bullying has on children, their families and the larger community.

As we seek to educate our children about and protect them from the heartbreaking experience of being taunted by a bully, we may look to the model and teaching Jesus offered when he encountered this problem.

In this guided reflection, Brian B. Pinter offers passages from the Bible on the theme of taunting and reconciliation and explores what the example of Jesus can offer.

A project of “The Living Word: Scripture in the Life of the Church,” a joint project of ‘America’ and the American Bible Society.

A Journey through Holy Week

7 days of Bible Messages

Take a journey through Holy Week with the editors of ‘America,’ featuring reflections by James Martin, S.J., Kerry Weber, Luke Hansen, S.J., Kevin Clarke, Ashley McKinless, Raymond A. Schroth, S.J., and Tim Reidy.

Journey Through The Song of Songs

7 days of Bible Messages

We who live in the post-sexual-revolution era tend to view those biblical proscriptions as restrictive, superstitious and repressive. Perhaps to some extent they were. But if given the chance, the sages of Israel might respond to our “enlightened” attitudes toward sex by pointing out that our culture’s acceptance and tacit approval of random hook ups, “friends with benefits” and pornography is laughably naïve. The ancients understood that the arrows of Eros were arrows of fire and lightning—elements not to be treated lightly.

In this guided reflection, Brian P. Pinter explores what the Song of Songs can teach about this divine fire driving each of us.

A project of “The Living Word: Scripture in the Life of the Church,” a joint project of ‘America’ and the American Bible Society.