Chapters 12-13 of Mathew’s gospel continue to describe the opposition Jesus faces from the from the scribes and Pharisees . (Monday) The towns and cities that once welcomed him begin also to wonder about him. His family from Nazareth come to speak to him, most likely to take him home. (Tuesday)

Jesus responds to the opposition with a series of parables, beginning with the parable of the sower. (Friday)

We’re continuing to read from the Prophet Micah this week. A contemporary of Isaiah, he is not a priest, but may be one of the immigrants from the Northern Kingdom who tried to resettle in Judea. Micah champions the cause of immigrants and promises that God will be merciful to the Jews of the north. (Monday-Tuesday)

On Thursday we begin reading from the Prophet Jeremiah. Born about 650 into a priestly family, Jeremiah preached  to the Kingdom of Judah during its final tumultuous days before the Babylonians captured Jerusalem in 598 BC and took away its leading citizens into exile in Babylon.

Jeremiah wasn’t accepted during his lifetime and\ suffered for his preaching. His influence grew only after his death as Jewish exiles reflected on his words and actions. He’s seen as a figure of Jesus who also suffered rejection.

We celebrate the feast of Mary Magdalen this week. (Wednesday) Her feast, as “an apostle to the apostles” was raised in importance by Pope Francis from a memorial to a feast. We celebrate the Apostle James, one of the “sons of Zebedee” on Saturday,