Sunday Readings: Isaiah 50.5-9; James 2.14-18; Mark 8.27-35 “Who do you say that I am?” (Mark 8.29) Mark’s gospel explores how the faith of Jesus’ disciples matures. For all of us faith develops across the life cycle. As children, our brains limit our understanding. As adolescents, we share the faith of our families, neighbors, and […]
Gospel Reflection for September 13, 2015, 24th Sunday Ordinary Time Read More »
Sunday Readings: Isaiah 35.4-7; James 2.1-5; Mark 7.31-37 “He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.” (Mark 7.37) In Sunday’s gospel Jesus heals a man who is deaf. His lack of hearing separate the man from his society. He experiences the world as silent. Worse, his
Gospel Reflection for September 6, 2015, 23rd Sunday Ordinary Time Read More »
Sunday Readings: Deuteronomy 4.1-2, 6-8; James 1.17-18, 21-22, 27; Mark 7.1-8, 14-15, 21-23 “Nothing that enters a person from outside can make a person impure; it is the things that come out that defile. It is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come.” (Mark 7.18-21) Every generation has to discern which traditions
Gospel Reflection for August 30, 2015, 22nd Sunday Ordinary Time Read More »
Sunday Readings: Amos 7.12-15; Ephesians 1.3-14; Mark 6.7-13 “Jesus called the twelve and began to send them out two by two…They cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.” (Mark 6.7, 13) Why does Jesus send out twelve? Jesus’ intimate circle of followers includes many more than twelve.
Gospel Reflection for July 12, 2015, 15th Sunday Ordinary Time Read More »
Sunday Readings: Ezekiel 2.2-5; 2 Corinthians 12.7-10; Mark 6.1-6 “Prophets are not without honor except in their hometown, among their own kin, and in their own house.” (Mark 6.4) Sunday’s gospel tells a terrible story about a town where Jesus can work no miracles. Jesus’ home folks can’t get beyond their certainty that they know
Gospel Reflection for July 5, 2015, 14th Sunday Ordinary Time Read More »
Sunday Readings: Wisdom 1.13-15, 2.23-24; 2 Corinthians 8.7, 9, 13-15; Mark 5.21-43 Jesus took the girl by the hand, saying, “Talitha cum, Little girl, arise.” The Gospel has two daughters of faith. A girl of 12 near death whose dad begs Jesus for help. A woman whose hemorrhaging has lasted 12 years. If she lived
Gospel Reflection for June 28, 2015, 13th Sunday Ordinary Time Read More »
Sunday Readings: Job 38.1, 8-11; 2 Corinthians 5.14-17; Mark 4.35-41 “Leaving the crowd behind, his disciples took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was. Other boats were with him. A terrible windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat so that it was being swamped.” “Teacher, don’t you care that we
Gospel Reflection for June 21, 2015, 12th Sunday Ordinary Time Read More »
Sunday Readings: Ezekiel 17.22-24; 2 Corinthians 5.6-10; Mark 4.26-34 “This is how it is with the reign of God. A farmer scatters seed on the ground, goes to bed, and gets up day after day. Through it all the seed sprouts and grows without the farmer knowing how it happens. The earth produces of itself,
Gospel Reflection for June 14, 2015, 11th Sunday Ordinary Time Read More »
Sunday Readings: Exodus 24.3-8; Hebrews 9.11-15; Mark 14.12-16, 22-26 “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to his disciples. Take this; this is my body.” (Mark 14.23-24) Perhaps a parent or grandparent has cautioned: if you eat any more chocolate chip cookies, you will turn into one. The
Gospel Reflection for June 7, 2015, Body and Blood of Christ Read More »
Sunday Readings: Acts 1.1-11; Ephesians 1.17-23; Mark 16.15-20 “Go to the whole world and preach the gospel.” (Mark 16.15) The ascension is the hinge event between Jesus’ resurrection and his sending of the Spirit. Luke’s gospel ends with Jesus’ ascension and the Acts of the Apostles begins with the same scene. Luke draws on ancient
Gospel Reflection for May 17, 2015, Ascension Read More »