In Episode 584 of the Bible as Literature Podcast, Fr. Marc Boulos explores Luke 9:10 through the Semitic root ס־פ־ר / س־ف־ر (samek-fe-reš / sīn-fāʾ-rāʾ), uncovering a rich biblical ecology of sending, hearing, obeying, recounting, and carrying the word of God.Beginning with a sh ...Show more
The Khalīfa, the Slave, and the Adversary
In this episode, Fr. Marc Boulos explores the profound connection between the Qurʾanic account of Adam as khalīfa (خليفة), Paul’s teaching on κοινωνία (koinonia), the biblical function of stewardship, and Luke 9:7–9, where Herod is troubled by reports concerning Jesus.Why is Hero ...Show more
The the Cure Waits for the Kingdom
In this episode of The Bible as Literature, Fr. Marc Boulos delivers a powerful Mother’s Day homily and biblical reflection on the meaning of Baal, husbandry, empire, and the anti-imperial function of scripture. Beginning with the Semitic root ב־ע־ל / ب־ع־ل (b-ʿ-l), Fr. Marc expl ...Show more
Isaiah in the Streets
I call out to Isaiah: اخرج من الكتب القديمة (ukhruj min al-kutub al-qadīmah), come out of the old books as they came out. The world needs you now.Mahmoud Darwish said it under the siege of Beirut, in 1982, watching human flesh hung from the walls over the openings of the Old Test ...Show more
The Hidden Pillar
The Greek ὑπομονή (hypomone) is a compound: ὑπό (hypo, under) and μονή (mone, a remaining, from μένω, meno). Literally: remaining under. The one who endures is the one who remains standing under the pressure of weight. This is not a second concept grafted onto μένω (meno); it is ...Show more