“The just rejoice and exult before God” and “are glad and rejoice” as they praise God’s name, the psalmist says this Sunday. The nation this week praises and remembers Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s stirring “I have a dream” speech, a call for racial justice issued 50 years ago at the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs . . .

The “sprinkled blood” of Jesus “speaks more eloquently than that of Abel,” the reading from the Letter to the Hebrews says this Sunday. The images of innocent civilians, including many children, left lifeless by a poison gas attack near the Syrian capital last week speak more powerfully of the need to respond militarily . . .

During a meal at the home of a leading Pharisee, Jesus advises those present on a new set of dining protocols not likely to win favor with the other attendees. After only one year some schools around the country are dropping out of the healthier new federal lunch program, complaining that many . . .

Jesus is the “mediator of a new covenant,” the second reading informs us this Sunday. Millions of public servants burdened with student-loan debt could use a mediator to help them take advantage of government loan forgiveness programs which observers say are overly complicated and confusing. More than 33 million workers qualify to have their student . . .

"At this point the weight of international opinion would be that military action would not be legal. However, I do think that there could be a case where violation of the law would be excused on the grounds of humanitarian necessity.”

Financial, insurance, and accounting firms have donated $10 million to members of the U.S. House Financial Services Committee this year. Extra seats have had to be installed to accomodate demand for places on the 61-person so-called "cash committee."