St. Mark’s gospel reminds us that causing harm to “the little ones” has been there from the beginning. It was horrible then and it is horrible now. Jesus admonition to “cut off” the offending limb or “pluck out” the offending eye made me think of what we used to call “the near occasions of sin.”… Read More »
FEBRUARY272019
From now until Lent begins the readings will be taken from the Book of Sirach. This is a late book, written about the year 200BC in Hebrew but translated into Greek about the year 135BC. Portions of the original Hebrew were re-discovered in the Dead Sea Scrolls. It is not considered part of the Hebrew… Read More »
FEBRUARY262019
In St. Mark’s portrayal, the twelve apostles are remarkably thick. In one scene they are portrayed as unable to do anything to bring about healing without Jesus. In the next scene they are described as “discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest.” You can almost hear Jesus’ exasperation with them. To cure… Read More »
FEBRUARY252019
“I do believe, help my unbelief!” This heart-felt cry from a father seeking Jesus to cure his son is one that we can relate to. How often we turn to God but are unsure of the divine response. Recall that the opposite of faith is not doubt but certainty. Faith always implies a risk as… Read More »
FEBRUARY242019
Are things getting better or are things getting worse? On the one hand the rich keep getting richer and the poor poorer. On the other hand, the number of people living in what economists call absolute poverty has dropped from 44% in 1980 to 10% today. On the one hand the potential death and destruction… Read More »
FEBRUARY232019
The Letter to the Hebrews provides a definition of faith: “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” Contrast that understanding of faith with the story of the Transfiguration in St. Mark’s Gospel. There instead of faith the chosen apostles are given sight, are given the fulfillment of… Read More »
FEBRUARY222019
Yesterday St. Mark’s version of the conversation between Jesus and Peter at Caesarea Philippi ended with the Lord telling the apostle, “Get behind me, Satan. You are not thinking as God thinks.” In St. Matthew’s telling the highlight of the scene is Jesus saying to Peter, You are the Rock “and upon this rock I… Read More »
FEBRUARY212019
St. Mark carefully composed the 8th chapter. He begins with Jesus chiding the disciples for missing what he is all about. “You have eyes, and yet do not see!” Then there is a gradual cure of a blind man which serves as a metaphor for the gradual coming to faith that is genuine discipleship. Finally… Read More »
FEBRUARY202019
Chapter 8 of St. Mark’s gospel is the “hinge” around which the story turns. It begins with Jesus being frustrated with the disciples. “You have eyes, but you do not yet see!” They weren’t getting what he was about. In the next scene there is a miraculous cure of a man recovering his sight. Certainly… Read More »
FEBRUARY192019
Even Jesus got discouraged when the disciples didn’t get it. “Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear?” And Noah saw God throw up the divine hands at how creation turned out. God “regretted that he had made man on the… Read More »
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