It is a coincidence, or we would say a providence, that the two readings assigned for today serve as commentary for one another. In Ordinary Time the readings are done chapter by chapter, during these weeks from Gensis and the Gospel of Mark, so their relevance to one another  is happenstance. In the Old Testament… Read More »

The eighth chaper of St. Mark’s gospel is the hinge around which the mission of Jesus swings. Up until this point Jesus has been teaching, preaching, working miracles all in the hope that his disciples would get what he was about. Finally, taking a day apart with those closest to him he asks: “But who… Read More »

“Do you see anything?” In St. Mark’s Gospel the image of the blind recovering their sight serves as a metaphor for overcoming spiritual blindness and receiving the faith. Jesus curing the blind man at Bethsaida is set right before the scene at Caesarea Philippi where Peter confesses Jesus as the Messiah. The way Mark tells… Read More »

The Bible makes it clear that God doesn’t give up on us. Jesus has been working with his disciples for several years but they still don’t get it. After a particularly obtuse comment Jesus in exasperation exclaims, “Do you still not understand?” But he didn’t fire them. He continued to work with them bringing them… Read More »

“Am I my brother’s keeper?” There is a way of looking at the Bible as one long attempt to answer Cain’s question. Do I have any responsibilities toward others? And how big a circle do I need to include in my circle of care? Do I only need to love my family as Abraham did?… Read More »

Number One Son ran up to his father. Honorable Sir, he said, I have some bad news. Our prize brood mare horse has run away into the hills. The father answered, bad news? Good news? Who knows. The next day Number One Son ran up to his father again. Honorable Sir, he said, I have… Read More »

The story of Adam and Eve demonstrates the all too human tendency to blame someone else. Adam pointed toward Eve, “The woman whom you put here with me— she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it.” Eve pointed toward the serpent and, doubtless, if the serpent had arms for pointing he… Read More »

The serpent tempted Adam and Even by saying, “you will be like gods.” You will be able to do whatever you want, you will not have to listen to anyone, you will only seek to satisfy yourself. In many ways all temptations are a repeat of the first one. We are tempted to act according… Read More »

Human beings pay attention to differences — young and old, male and female, black and white, my tribe vs. your tribe. The Bible urges us to notice not the differences but the commonality. The story of the creation of human beings is designed to show that both male and female have the same divine origin.… Read More »

The book of Genesis tells us that what makes us more than a lump of clay is the very breath of God. The LORD God formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being. In both Hebrew and Greek,… Read More »