This is an interesting reading, and even a bit odd, giving us another insight into Jesus’ teaching methods. First with those who are closest to him – who have been traipsing around the country for almost three years. This is the group who believe in him so he is quick to correct their human thinking that gets in the way of their perception of just who he is. I can see him (can you?) walking … [Read more...]
Rarely One “Right Way”
In this Gospel, Mark provides a significant amount of information about the Jewish observance of ritual-purity laws. Most Scripture scholars believe that Mark’s purpose was to educate the Gentile Christians in his audience since they would have had little or no experience of these laws. Jesus first criticizes the Pharisees for putting human tradition above God’s Law – for making the tradition … [Read more...]
What bread will you and I eat today?
We live: hungry people in a hungry world. Everyone is looking for something that will sustain and nourish their life, something that will feed and energize them, something that will fill and satisfy. Everyone is looking for bread. The problem is not that we are hungry, but the kinds of bread we eat. Think about the variety of bread we eat at our own table: wheat, multi-grain, plain white; … [Read more...]
Is Your Badge a Badge of Busyness?
It seems to me we would be hard put to find a more appropriate Gospel to lead into our annual retreat at Holy Name. Jesus invites us: “Come away by yourself to a deserted place and rest awhile.” We would think it bizarre for a traveler not to be prepared for a journey. We would feel pity for the poor traveler who never read his/her itinerary. Which of these hundreds of aircraft is my … [Read more...]
Stay the Course
Luke and Matthew relate the same story heard in this gospel from Mark. With Luke, you realize, it was hearsay … he was not there to give an eye-witness account. It’s interesting to see the minor, but specific differences in the three accounts. For example, where Mark says, “take no money,” Matthew specifies, “take no silver, gold or copper coins.” He was covering all the bases, not just the … [Read more...]
