God establishes a covenant “with every living creature” in this Sunday’s reading from the Book of Genesis, promising that creation will be safe from the annihilation of another flood. Struggling to slow the worldwide destruction caused by unregulated trade in weapons of war . . .

“Teach me your paths, guide me in your truth,” the psalmist prays to the Lord this Sunday. Long-standing cultural traditions and a lack of education on the dangers of heavy drinking have led to a crisis of alcohol-related problems in South Africa, including high levels of violent crime, . . .

“This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand,” Jesus announces in this Sunday’s gospel when he embarks on his public ministry. Many of those who would like to embark on a fulfilling ministry as members of religious communities are stymied by an average of $28,000 in student debt . . .

“Put to death in the flesh, he was brought to life in the Spirit,” says the First Letter of Peter about Jesus in this Sunday’s second reading. Themes of dying and rising permeate the season of Lent. They also factor into a recent experiment by Russian scientists . . .

In this season of conversion, at least one Baptist theologian is coming around to the idea of Lent and in so doing striking a refreshing note for ecumenical unity in a time plagued by divisive religious rhetoric. . . .

“I adored Hollywood. I didn’t leave because it was a place of sin. I left Hollywood at the urging of a mysterious thing called vocation. . . . It’s a call of love.”

Political donations from wealthy persons working in the financial sector have jumped 700 percent in the last 20 years, up from $15.4 million in 1990 to $178.2 million in 2010.