Jesus “was calling people to faith in him, ‘Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God,’ not merely in his reputation or his deeds,” says PrepareTheWord’s “Notes on the text” for this Sunday's readings. Hoping to avert a premature strike by Israel on Iran’s nuclear facilities, President Barack Obama has been working to get that country's leadership to have faith . . .

“You shall not kill” is among the commandments the Lord delivers to the people in this Sunday’s first reading. Apparently, video-game makers didn’t get the memo. Many violent video games have begun incorporating religion into their story lines . . .

“Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom,” Saint Paul tells the Christian community at Corinth in this Sunday’s second reading. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is demanding signs from the makers of a new caffeine “inhaler” that their product is safe . . .

Seeing money changers and hawkers doing business in God’s house, Jesus responds forcefully and angrily in this Sunday’s gospel. Riot police responded with force Monday to angry demonstrators in Moscow . . .

You would think that someone intent on robbing a cathedral of a priceless relic might pause to consider the Book of Exodus’ admonition: “You shall not steal” . . .

“In an earlier time, Saint Augustine captured the sense of what is required in civil discourse: ‘Let us, on both sides, lay aside all arrogance. Let us not, on either side, claim that we have already discovered the truth. Let us seek it together.’ ”

Of the 120 members of the U.S. Congress who left office following the 2010 midterm elections voluntarily or due to defeat (an unusually high turnover), over 50 percent of those who found new positions are working as lobbyists, either for firms or individual clients.