If anyone wishes to come after me…he must take up his cross daily and follow me. (Lk. 9:22-25) Today’s gospel reading is one of many during this Lenten season where Jesus addresses what he will have to go through as well as the invitation to follow him along this same journey. This can certainly be …
Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart. (Joel 2:12-18) Today we begin the journey of Lent. We receive the outward sign of ashes that is to reflect our inward desire to change. Earlier verses in Joel use the imagery of a locust invasion seen as God’s judgment on his people. …
Do you still not understand? (Mk. 8:14-21) Jesus displays a bit of frustration with his disciples. Mark recounts Jesus’ initial answer is to be aware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod. The apostles conclude that it is because they do not have sufficient provisions. Jesus reminds them of the two incidents when he …
But he should ask in faith, not doubting. (James 1:1-11) The apostle James is writing to a people persecuted, battered by trials and very familiar with the cost of faith. He exhorts them to remain strong, trust that perseverance will result in greater wisdom, a type of perfection and completeness. He further urges them to …
Eye has not seen, and ear has not heard (I Cor. 2:6-10) In this passage St. Paul reminds us that we have been given the wisdom of God. There is little explanation as to what this exactly entails, but it is a wisdom from the Holy Spirit given through the cross of Christ. Yet we …
My heart is moved with pity for the crowd. (Mk. 8:1-10) There is so much going on in this Gospel. Thousands of people have been with Jesus for three days. There is little food and Jesus fears dismissing them without sustenance. They have stayed with him because they are also spiritually hungry. The apostles have …
He has done all things well. (Mk. 7:31-37) Jesus has returned to the Decapolis, one of ten culturally Greek cities. Friends bring Jesus a man who was deaf and mute. This particular healing is very different from others. Jesus does not merely lay his hands on the person or speak words of healing. Jesus pulls …
She begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter. (Mk. 7:24-30) We continue our journey through Mark’s chapter. Here, Jesus questions the Jewish understanding of clean and unclean, categories applied to Gentiles. Jews would have referred to them as dogs, a verse that has resulted in much debate on Jesus’ use of the …
All these evils come from within and they defile. (Mk. 7:14-23) Today’s Gospel is a continuation from yesterday. Jesus wants to make it perfectly clear that what defiles one does not come from the outside or some failure to follow exactly the hundreds of customs that had developed in Judaism over the centuries. To make …
You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition. (Mk. 7:1-13) Jesus and His apostles ate their meals unclean, according to tradition. The Pharisees were quick to judge them. Jesus quickly pointed out that, on the contrary, the Pharisees were disregarding the heart of the law, replacing it with man-made laws and customs, giving the …
