Jesus asked Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Teacher, I want to see again,” Bartimaeus answered. “Go,” said Jesus. “Your faith has made you well.” At once Bartimaeus was able to see and followed Jesus up the road. Mark 10.51-52 Sunday’s gospel portrays the blind beggar Bartimaeus as an ideal disciple. […]
Gospel Reflection for October 28, 2012, 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »
Jesus said, “For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Mark 10.45 Jesus calls his disciples together when he hears the rest complaining about James and John seeking status. He defines himself as one who serves, who gives his life to
Gospel Reflection for October 21st, 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »
Jesus said, “How hard for those trusting riches to enter the kingdom of God.” Mark 10.24 In his lifetime, Jesus was an itinerant preacher, who possessed no belongings and owned no home. Jesus sent his disciples out in the same way—with no food, money, bags, or second tunic. Christians for whom Mark writes in A.D.
Gospel Reflection for October 14, 2012, 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »
Some Pharisees ask Jesus if the Law allows for a man to divorce his wife. Jesus said, “But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female, and for this reason men and women leave their fathers and mothers and the two become one. They are no longer two but one. Let no
Gospel Reflection for October 7, 2012, 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »
John told Jesus about trying to stop a man, who was not a disciple, from casting out demons in Jesus’ name. Jesus responded, “Do not stop him. No one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for
Gospel Reflection for September 30, 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »
Jesus took a little child and stood the child among them. Jesus took the child in his arms and said, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me, but the one who sent me.” Mark 9.36-37 In the ancient world children were invisible, non-people of
Gospel Reflection for September 23, 2012, 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »
Jesus asks, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter answers, “You are the Messiah.” Mark 8.29 “Who do you say that I am?” Jesus asks his disciples in this Sunday’s gospel. The disciples are the people whom Mark most fully characterizes in his gospel. They follow Jesus without hesitating when he calls them from
Gospel Reflection for September 16, 2012, 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »
Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters into a person from outside can make a person impure; it is the things that come out that defile.” John 7.14-15 Jesus is breaking down the wall of the law that protects Jewish identity. Jesus declares
Gospel Reflection for September 2, 2012, 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »
Sunday Readings: Joshua 24.1-2, 15-17, 18; Ephesians 5.21-32; John 6.60-69 “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” John 6.63 Jesus’ words in last Sunday’s gospel jar his disciples. “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat
Gospel Reflection for August 26, 2012, 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »
Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. John 6.53 Eucharist feeds a kingdom-building church that erupts with breathtaking force when the same food touches and fuels many together at once. Eucharist is an act of solidarity with
Gospel Reflection for August 19, 2012, 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »