On more than one occasion when Jesus spoke to his disciples, “They did not understand the saying,” as this Sunday’s gospel puts it. A newly revealed, centuries-old papyrus fragment that appears to say in part, “Jesus said to them, ‘My wife . . . ,” has scripture scholars wondering . . .

The author of the Letter of James rhetorically asks the listener where wars and conflicts come from and, answering the question, points to passions such as the desire to obtain what we do not possess. Claiming that Iran desires a nuclear weapon, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu . . .

While Jesus was encouraging his disciples to approach power with humility in Sunday’s gospel, they were busy arguing over which one “was the greatest.” The presidential candidates are back on the campaign trail this week, each one arguing that he would do greater things . . .

This Sunday the psalmist sings the praises of the Lord who “sustains my life,” the God who “is my helper.” A jump in sales of previously owned homes to the highest level in more than two years, as well as an uptick in new home construction, is helping sustain a recovery in the long-beleaguered housing market . . .

"Are there flaws in the church? Absolutely. But is there great beauty in the church? Absolutely."

In 1962 the richest 1 percent of Americans had 125 times the net worth of the median U.S. household. By 2010, they had 288 times more.