GOSPEL OF MARK

GOSPEL OF MARK

 Mark is one of the three Synoptic Gospels. Matthew and Luke are the other two.  They are called Synoptic because they mirror one another with similar narratives. The Gospel of Mark was probably the first Gospel to be written around AD 55-65. John Mark is the author of this Gospel. It is believed that he was the attendant and writer for the Apostle Peter.

An extremely important theme in Mark’s gospel is discipleship.  Disciples in the ancient world would seek out a teacher or rabbi and “follow” or “come after” him.  Discipleship involved not only learning from the teacher, but developing a personal relationship with him.

Mark records more miracles of Christ than any of the other Gospels. Jesus proves his divinity in Mark by the demonstration of miracles. An overriding theme of the Gospel of Mark is that Jesus came to serve. Jesus gave his life in service to mankind. And Jesus expects the same from His disciples.

SCRIPTURE

 MARK 1:4-11

The Preaching of John the Baptist.

John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist.  He fed on locusts and wild honey.

 And this is what he proclaimed: “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

“You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

 REFLECTION

John was out in the desert, a voice crying in the wilderness, repent, be baptized for the forgiveness of sins. While John’s baptism could not literally forgive sins it called attention to the need for repentance and change of life style.  John foretold the one who would come after him, Jesus.  “This one is mightier and will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

It is amazing to me that people came from all over to repent of their sins even into the wilderness. Way back when they recognized the burden their sins carried.   Today sin is almost ignored entirely, placed aside, excused and not called sin at all.

Do we carry a heavy burden of sin? Are we reconciled with God and our neighbor?  We don’t have to go into the wilderness to repent of our sins and have them forgiven.   Our parish priest sits mostly alone in the confessional waiting to absolve us of our sins in the name of Jesus. “I absolve you from your sins, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” WOW!  Sins forgiven, burden lifted, free at last!

Jesus asked John to baptize Him, what is that about?  Jesus has no sins to be forgiven.  Jesus, human and Divine, was setting an example for us.  We are in need of repentance and forgiveness of sins.  Jesus came to serve humanity and show us the Way.  How is he rewarded by His Father?

The heavens opened, the Holy Spirit that convicts us of our sins appears and a voice from the Father in heaven proclaims, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”   It reminds me of a time in visiting Rome, I went to confession at St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica and when leaving the confessional I heard the most beautiful singing and I looked around and there was no choir or anyone else singing….

SCRIPTURE

MARK 1:40-45

The Cleansing of a Leper

 A leper came to him [and kneeling down] begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.”  The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.  Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.”

 The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

“I do will it. Be made clean”

REFLECTION

A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.”

This leper shows both reverence and faith.  Do we approach Jesus humbly, acknowledging He is God and anything is possible with God?  Do we accept that it is up to God to grant our request, not my will, but His?

It took a lot of courage for that leper to approach Jesus.  Lepers were outcasts, unclean, separated from society as a whole, even from worshiping God in the temple.

Jesus does not stop with appearances but sees a man who believes in God, is dependent on God, and not afraid to make requests of God, a loving Father.  Do we sometimes fear God and thus separate ourselves even further away.  Stupid, isn’t it!  God is both the reason for our being and the one who perfects us to be the man or woman He has created that we may be reunited with Him in heaven forever and ever.  Fear is the devil’s tool to separate us from our heavenly Father who loves us more than we can know but the crucifix gives us an idea.

Jesus replied to the leper, “I do will it. Be made clean.”  Jesus has cleansed the leper physically and spiritually but then warns the leper not to tell anyone.  What is that all about?  Most of us boast of our talents or remarkable deeds.  Of course Jesus has no reason to boast.  He is God after all.   Jesus’ public ministry has not been fulfilled yet. He doesn’t want to stir up his religious opponents too soon.  His hour had not yet come.

Of course the leper was a blabber mouth and told everyone the marvelous deed that Jesus had done for him. Jesus remained outside the cities in deserted places but people came to him there.  Makes me wonder why we don’t flock to our parish churches.  Jesus is truly present in the Blessed Sacrament.  We don’t have travel into a wilderness to find Jesus.  Think about it!

SCRIPTURE

 MARK 2:1-12
The Healing of a Paralytic

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home.^* Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. 

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven.”  Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, “Why does this man speak that way?^* He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins? 

 Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?  Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’? 

 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth”—he said to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.”  He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”

Child, your sins are forgiven

 REFLECTION

When Jesus returned to his home in Capernaum, the crowd was so great that no more could fit inside or even get close to Jesus.  Some enterprising friends of a paralytic were undaunted though, and cut a hole in the roof of the house.

As far as I know Jesus lived with Peter in Capernaum.  I have always wondered about Peter’s expression and reaction to this intrusion.  But I guess Peter’s faith in Jesus extended to any set of circumstances

I marvel too at the faith and persistence of these friends that knew if they could get this paralytic to Jesus all would be well.  Do we have that kind of faith and persistence?  “Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete” John 16:24.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven” I find it interesting that Mark says when Jesus saw their faith.  The paralytic may have requested to be brought to Jesus, or maybe his friends did it on their own.  We don’t know. But the use of “their” reminds me how interconnected the Mystical Body of Christ and what we can do for one another.

“Who but God can forgive sins?” The scribes got that part right but then accused the Son of God, the Messiah, right in front of them of blaspheming! Do we ever miss God as badly as these scribes in daily encounters and experiences?  Are we too quick to judge others? or write others off…through what lens do we see others?

 SCRIPTURE

MARK 2:13-17

 The Call of Levi (Matthew)

Once again he went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them.  As he passed by,^* he saw Levi, son of Alpheus, sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.

While Jesus was at table in Levi’s (Matthew) house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him.  Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?

Jesus heard this and said to them [that], “Those who are well do not need a physician,^* but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

“Follow me.”

 REFLECTION

First let me settle some confusion that may arise.  Is this tax collector Levi or Matthew?  Matthew and Levi are the same person. Matthew is the Greek name and Levi was the Hebrew name. As a tax collector, Matthew worked for Greek-speaking Romans. He gathered taxes from Hebrew-speaking Jews.

I love this painting above by Caravaggio, so much in fact that I have it hanging in my office.  Jesus has called me along with the rest of us to service and to spread the Good News.  It reminds me each evening to check, have I been doing my discipleship this day.

It also reminds me of the Prophet Isaiah, Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?  Then Isaiah said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8  Am I really ready to volunteer for anything God asks of me.???

“Many all called but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:14 Many people hear the call of God through His revelation in creation, through the conscience, and the preaching of the Word. But only the “few” will respond. Jesus said many times, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear”  Matthew 11:15 The point is that everyone has ears, but only a few are listening and responding. The “many” hear, but there is no interest or there is outright antagonism toward God.

“Follow me!”  And he got up and followed him. Now I like the touch in Caravaggio’s painting, where it looks like Matthew is saying who me or are you pointing to me, Lord, don’t you know who I am, a tax collector, a cheat, betrayer of my people.  Jesus can use anything and anybody for the good.

“Those who are well do not need a physician,^* but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”  How lucky are we because we are all sinners.  Jesus came for us that we may know the love and mercy of the Father.  No one forces us to accept the love of the Father. But let us respond with a resounding YES!

PLEASE CHECK OUT MY FRIEND MICHAEL HORN BLOG

Atop Tabor: A Short Piece on The Transfiguration of the Lord – Echoes in Eternity

 

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SCRIPTURE

 MARK 3:23-30

the unpardonable sin

The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,”^* and “By the prince of demons he drives out demons

 Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables, “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.  And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.

 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand; that is the end of him. But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.  Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit^* will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin. ”For they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

WHOEVER BLASPHEMES AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT

WILL NEVER RECEIVE FORGIVENESS

REFLECTION

This Scripture reading begins with Jesus being falsely accused then he summons them which means for me he told these misguided leaders to pay attention.  Jesus teaches with authority, remember, and sometimes like with students it is hard for a Teacher to get across to students what they need to know. Jesus points out in parable it makes no sense if I was the devil casting out devils.

This makes me think of division in our Church and in our Country.  A tool of the devil is division, generate fear of other, separate us from each other, and separate us from God.  When we have “fear” and “doubt” be wary of the devil.  God is a God of Peace.  Be Not Afraid.  God is a God of unity.  That all may be one.

Because these scribes accused Jesus of having an unclean spirit they have committed the unpardonable sin.  They have blasphemed against the Holy Spirit.  These scribes rejected the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to acknowledge Jesus as God.

Jesus stood right before them and they accused Him of being the devil instead of the Son of God. “Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin” Mark 3:29

The only unpardonable sin for us too, today is that of continued unbelief. There is no pardon for a person who dies in his rejection of Christ. The Holy Spirit is at work in the world, convicting the unsaved of sin, righteousness, and judgment John 16:8

 SCRIPTURE

 MARK 3:31-34

who are my brothers and sisters?

His mother and his brothers arrived. Standing outside they sent word to him and called him. A crowd seated around him told him, “Your mother and your brothers^* and your sisters are outside asking for you.” But he said to them in reply, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

HERE ARE MY MOTHER AND BROTHERS

REFLECTION

We don’t know for sure why his mother and other relatives) came to see him.  Jesus had no brothers or sisters, a common term for any relative.  Maybe they missed him.  Maybe they were worried about him.  Maybe they just liked to hear him preach.  At any rate the crowd wanted to call attention to his Mother and relatives that were seeking him, acceptable hospitality on the part of the crowd, but Jesus had a response no one anticipated.

Jesus said to those seated around Him that they were His mother and brothers!  Why because they were doing the will of God in choosing Jesus, the Word of God.  Nothing is more important than the will of God including family members. Yes we must choose God over family members, if necessary, and that may complicate things but is a family member worth separating from God.

Reminds me of the Martha and Mary story.  Jesus was not criticizing Martha when she asked him to tell her sister to help with preparations for the meal.  The Lord said in gentle manner, Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” So many things we obsess about but only one necessary thing, How are we and God doing?

 SCRIPTURE

MARK 4:26-34

Jesus describes kingdom of heaven in a parable

He said, “This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed^j on the land

and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how

Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.

And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.”

THE SPIRIT BLOWS WHERE IT WILLS

REFLECTION

We don’t have to wait for the next life to share in the kingdom of heaven.  The kingdom grows here on earth by the seeds that are sown by the Holy Spirit and the faith we share with others. It grows and grows into a great Mystical Body of Christ.  Christ is the head and we are the body.  Heaven is a sharing in the divine life of the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.  Why wait!  Begin now to share in the Divine Life through faith in Jesus.

The Sower that sows the seed knows not how it grows and comes to harvest. Just like we don’t know how our prayers and good deeds affect others. So let’s get busy and flinging those good seeds about and where they land nobody knows but God knows.  The Spirit moves where it wills. “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:8

SCRIPTURE

 MARK 4:35-41

 be still and know I am God

 On that day, as evening drew on, he said to them, “Let us cross to the other side.” Leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up.

 Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!”^* The wind ceased and there was great calm.

 Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”

BE STILL AND KNOW I AM GOD

REFLECTION

Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Did Jesus care, of course He did but he knew they weren’t going to perish.  Isn’t it something how God knows more than we do.  Jesus spent a good amount of time with his disciples, telling them not to be afraid.  Why was that?  Because the only thing to fear is separation from God. To demonstrate that, Jesus performed another miracle hoping they would get it this time. Jesus stood His ground, ““Quiet! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm.

Just to check out whether his apostles got it yet, He asked, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith? I put emphasis on the word yet.  How long is it going to take?  How long is it going to take for us?

How is going on our own,  depending just on yourself?  We know we are going to suffer.  Is it better to complain and shake our fists at the world or to welcome Jesus into our every experience?  God never gives us more than we can handle if we are united to Him.  Go it alone?  Go with God?

They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”Do we know the answer?  Are we still filled with awe like children when God intercedes in our experiences!

I deliberately chose a modern version of a picture of Jesus calming the sea to remind us that same Jesus, that same God today, will calm our turbulence if we only ask as we make our way to the safe harbor of heaven.

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCRIPTURE

Mark 5:26-34

daughter your faith has saved you
There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse.

 She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.

 Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?” But his disciples said to him, “You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, ‘Who touched me?’

 And he looked around to see who had done it. The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”

DAUGHTER, YOUR FAITH HAS SAVED YOU, GO IN PEACE

REFLECTION

 This woman has been afflicted for years like so many of us.  We try doctors, therapies, medicines and our affliction remains.  We may also pray often an fervently for relief.  And yet it is not God’s hour.  But we trust that God is with us in our affliction and that our suffering is making a difference for the good of others.

This woman did not know Jesus but heard about Jesus from others, other evangelizers, like you and me. Her faith is remarkable, she believed if she just the touch the hem of His garment, salvation would come.

She quietly approached Jesus from a crowd but Jesus felt something go out from Him.  What was it that Jesus felt?  Jesus cries out, Who touched me!  His disciples were dumbfounded, everyone is touching you but Jesus knew that He had been touched by one in need.

The woman realizes she is found out and knows Jesus knows who touched Him, approaches Jesus in fear and trembling.  Do we ever approach Jesus Savior of the world in the Blessed Sacrament in fear and trembling?

Daughter your faith has saved you!  There we have it again Faith saves.  Why is that?  Aren’t we already saved?  Well, yes and know.  Jesus died to save us from our sins.  But the story doesn’t end there. While the door to heaven is unlocked, it is a narrow path for those who believe, follow the Gospel, and repent of their sins.

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.” Matthew 7:14

 SCRIPTURE

Mark 6:1-6

Jesus is amazed at lack of faith in his hometown

Jesus came to his native place,^* accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!

 Is he not the carpenter,^* the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?”  And they took offense at him.

 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there,^* apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them.  He was amazed at their lack of faith.

JESUS PREACHES IN SYNAGOGUE IN NAZARETH

REFLECTION

 Jesus preached in His native place, Nazareth.  People were amazed at what they heard. Now why was that, because they could not get beyond the judgment they already had formed about him.  “They took offense at him.

Do we do that, dismiss some real opportunities for grace because we disregard or prejudge the source? Let us be aware that God can tap us on the shoulder anytime anywhere, pay attention. The Spirit of the Lord moves where he wills. Don’t miss God moments!

Jesus’ neighbors had heard about Jesus’ mighty deeds but Jesus wasn’t able to work any in his hometown. Why was that? Lack of FAITH!

“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” Maybe you feel that way in your own family as you profess your faith. Well, don’t be surprised, it happened to Jesus. We certainly are no better or immune from critics than Jesus.

SCRIPTURE

Mark 6:7-12

the sending of the twelve

 Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick—no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic.  

 He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them.” So they went off and preached repentance. They drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

JESUS SENDS THEM TWO BY TWO TO PREACH REPENTANCE

REFLECTION

What do we see and hear in this Scripture reading?  Jesus summoned the apostles.  He was going to give them an important command, pay attention, do as I say.  Jesus knew it was a tough job to go out and evangelize those who haven’t yet heard the word or maybe did, and was hostile to it.

So Jesus wants his apostles to be fortified with prayer and fasting to depend on God for this important mission not themselves, no food, no money, no extra clothes…God will provide.  How strong do we believe in God’s providence?

Jesus gave the apostles authority over unclean spirits whether that be disease or demonic possession.  Jesus can  give someone else the power in His name to remove unclean spirits like in the Sacrament of Baptism and Sacrament of Reconciliation.

“Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them” Jesus is telling his apostles time is short, so great the harvest, so few laborers, use your time wisely.  Some people will reject Jesus to the very end.  Pray for those hardened of heart that they may repent.

I don’t know about you but over the years I have shaken the dust from many jobs and positions when it just became brutally apparent I could no longer be an influence for the good.  It is better to have a clean heart than stubbornly push ahead with only prideful motives in  pursuing your agenda.

SCRIPTURE

Mark 6:30-33

the return of the twelve.

The apostles^* gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.”

 People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place.  People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them.

COME AWAY AND REST AWHILE

 REFLECTION

 Mark does not tell us how long the apostles were gone or their accomplishments or failures.  We have to imagine that for ourselves.  But Jesus must have felt they needed a break to refresh and move forward.  Jesus said, “Come away and rest awhile.” I don’t think Jesus meant to hit the golf links.

We, too, need to rest in Christ. Welcome the Spirit of Christ into our hearts and ask for discernment of what our mission is all about. Ask for grace of perseverance that we may run the good race and finish the race in heaven.

Sometimes that is difficult with all the noise of the world. But we must set time aside for rest, reflection, and prayer. What is God calling us to do today? For sure, He is asking that we give glory and praise to Him in our thoughts, words, and deeds.

 Crowds that had heard or witnessed the might deeds of Jesus and His disciples were pursuing them even to the point of beating Jesus and His apostles to their deserted place.  That is some pursuit.  Do we pursue Jesus?  Do we persevere to the point of finding Him?  He is right there next to you, you know.

 SCRIPTURE

Mark 6:24-44

feeding of the five thousand.

When Jesus disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. By now it was already late and his disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already very late. Dismiss them so that they can go to the surrounding farms and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”

 He said to them in reply, “Give them some food yourselves.” But they said to him, “Are we to buy two hundred days wages worth of food and give it to them to eat?” He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out they said, “Five loaves and two fish.” So he gave orders to have them sit down in groups on the green grass. The people took their places in rows by hundreds and by fifties.

 Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to [his] disciples to set before the people; he also divided the two fish among them all.^* They all ate and were satisfied. And they picked up twelve wicker baskets full of fragments and what was left of the fish.  Those who ate were five thousand men.

JESUS FEEDS FIVE THOUSAND

 REFLECTION

 The apostles were thinking in practical terms and showing compassion to the hungry people when asking Jesus to dismiss them so they could take care of their human needs.  But Jesus must have wondered how long have these fellows been with me. I never disappoint.  “taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing” Jesus gave them to his disciples to distribute. They all ate and were satisfied. We don’t always see the way God sees but let’s try!

In the Old Testament God provided his people with Bread from Heaven. Then the LORD said to Moses:^a I am going to rain down bread from heaven Exodus 16:4

In the morning there was a layer of dew all about the camp, and when the layer of dew evaporated, fine flakes w like hoarfrost lay on the ground. On seeing it, the Israelites asked one another, “What is this?”  (the people of Israel asked in Hebrew “Ma’n Hu?” {?מן הוא} – translates into English for “what is it?) But Moses told them, “It is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat. Exodus 16:14-16

Now in the New Testament we have Jesus’ miracle of loaves and fishes, more food from heaven.  Many will pursue Jesus for this food and miss the point of a God that provides all good things to His people.  Jesus continually tries to tell the people how God will provide.

Look at the birds of the ^[a]air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? ²⁷ And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?…Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?…for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:26-35

 BREAD OF LIFE DISCOURSE JOHN 26-57

  “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you….

 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst….I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died;…Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.”

I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever…Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.  Whoever eats^* my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink…Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.

INSTITUTION OF THE EUCHARIST

 At the Last Supper Jesus gives himself to the Apostles and to us for all times.  

“Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you. Luke 22:19-20

 Jesus is truly the life of the world and whoever receives him into their heart will live forever.  Lord I am not worthy to receive you but say the word and my soul will be healed!

 

 

 

 

 

SCRIPTURE

Mark 7:1-23

 Man-made traditions vs God’s law

Now when the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unwashed, hands. For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands,^* keeping the tradition of the elders….

 So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders^* but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?”  

 He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written:  This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; In vain, do they worship me, teaching human precepts.as doctrines.

You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” He went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition!

For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and ‘Whoever curses father or mother shall die. Yet you say, “If a person says to father or mother, “Any support you may have had from me is Corban, meaning it is dedicated to God.

You allow him to do nothing more for his father and mother.  You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on….

He summoned the crowd and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.” When he got home away from the crowd his disciples questioned him about this.

He said to them, “Are even you likewise without understanding? Do you not realize that everything that goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since it enters not the heart but the stomach and passes out into the latrine?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.)

“But what comes out of a person, is what defiles. From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, un-chastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.”

YOU NULLIFY THE LAW OF GOD IN FAVOR OF HUMAN TRADITIONS

 REFLECTION

There are man-made laws and God’s law.  Which are better for us to obey?  Is it worth getting the praise of our friends and society for following the trends of today?  Is popularity going to get us into heaven where we want to go?

Do we hedge our bets?  Maybe I can get away with this but not that? Will God overlook this and that on judgment day? Or will we hear, ““How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition!

Traditions are nice.  They can bring families together at Thanksgiving and Christmas time.  But traditions are generally humanly sourced.  A man once asked his wife at Thanksgiving why she cut both ends of the ham off before cooking.  She said her mother always had.  Of course the context is her mother back in her day did it to fit into the cooking pan she had available.

Washing our hands is important especially now in this pandemic.  But we don’t know what the circumstance was when Jesus’ disciples, without washing their hands, were eating.  Maybe there was no water available.  I am sure they didn’t do it just to aggravate the Pharisees.

Jesus points out to the Scribes and Pharisees they are nit picking by selectively supporting human tradition while disregarding God’s law to honor their parents.  Aging Parents were heavily dependent on support of their children.  Corban, a man-made tradition, “I would like to help but I have dedicated everything to God,” gave these hypocrites an out, an excuse, not to spend their money in support of their parents.

Jesus, also, takes this opportunity to teach a lesson on the source of evil in this world.  It is not something we take in but is already present in our hearts. “From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, un-chastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. If our hearts are separated from God so will our actions be.

MAY OUR HEARTS BE IN UNION

WITH THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS

SCRIPTURE

Mark 7:31-37

He has done all things well

Jesus left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis.

People brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. Jesus took him off by himself away from the crowd.

 He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (that is, “Be opened!”)

 And [immediately] the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly.

Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it. They were exceedingly astonished and they said, “He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and [the] mute speak.

HE HAS DONE ALL THINGS WELL.

HE MAKES THE DEAF HEAR AND [THE] MUTE SPEAK.”

REFLECTION

Jesus is foretold as the Messiah, the anointed one by God in the book of the prophet Isaiah, “Be strong, do not fear!… your God, he comes with vindication; With divine recompense he comes to save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall see, and the ears of the deaf be opened; Then the lame shall leap like a stag, and the mute tongue sing for joy.” Isaiah 35:4-6

In the New Testament, Jesus confirms that He is the one the nation of Israel have been waiting for.  John the Baptist, while in prison, sends his disciples to Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?….Go tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them, blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.” Luke 7:19-23

Jesus arrives in this world not with fan-fare but born in a stable attended by shepherds and their sheep.

So it is not surprising that Jesus took the deaf mute aside from the crowd.  Jesus has no need to boast or show off.  Do we boast of our good deeds?  Only God is good.  Only the grace of God results in good actions on our part. Remember what St. Paul said in 2^nd Corinthians, “Whoever boasts should boast in the Lord.”

What has always surprised me about this miracle is Jesus touching the ears and rubbing spittle on the tongue of the deaf mute.  I like to think Jesus who is human and divine knows how important sense experience is to the human being, hearing, seeing, touching etc Jesus uses human touch to reveal Divine mystery.

Praise be Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior!

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SCRIPTURE

MARK 8:27-30
Peter’s Confession about Jesus

Now Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Christ” Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.

YOU ARE THE CHRIST

REFLECTION

“You are the Christ.” Some Scriptures have Peter saying, “You are the Messiah.” What is the difference?  There is no difference.  Messiah is a word of Hebrew origin; Christ is a word of Greek origin.

Both titles mean “anointed one.” And by the way Jesus’ last name is NOT Christ.

Many of the prophecies concerning the Messiah included promises that the Messiah would have a kingdom that would never end. (Isa 9:7, Dan 7:14, 2 Sam 7:13).  Jesus is the promised one, the anointed one, the Messiah because He rose from the dead on Easter Sunday and His kingdom is everlasting.

“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13-14

When Jesus asked his disciples, who do people say I am, he wasn’t looking for a survey of public opinion.  Jesus knew he had followers and critics and some followers looking for a free meal or spectacular miracle.

No, Jesus was testing his closest disciples.  He was also looking for who the Spirit of God inspired.  After all Peter a mere human could not come up with this on his own.  Peter spoke for all, no one countered with another opinion.  Then Jesus warned to keep it to themselves; His hour had not yet come.  He had more teaching to do.

Who do we say Jesus is?  Do we say it to others?  Are we still striving to get our arms around Jesus literally and figuratively?  St. Jerome said, “Ignorance of Scripture, is ignorance of Jesus.”  When was the last time we cracked open that bible gathering dust on the night stand?  We are commissioned at our Baptism to be disciples of Christ to go out, bear witness.  How can we bear witness to what we don’t know?

SCRIPTURE

 MARK 8:31-33

The First Prediction of the Passion.

He began to teach them that the Son of Man^* must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly.

 Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

GET BEHIND ME SATAN

REFLECTION

Now, that Jesus has confirmed who He is, the Messiah He continues teaching what that means from Scripture.

The “Suffering Servant,” has been long understood by the historical Rabbis of Judaism to speak of the Redeemer (Messiah) who will one day come to Zion. a man of suffering, knowing pain.

“Like one from whom you turn your face, spurned, and we held him in no esteem. Yet it was our pain that he bore, our sufferings he endured….He bore the punishment that makes us whole, by his wounds we were healed.

 Though harshly treated, he submitted and did not open his mouth; Like a lamb led to slaughter…Seized and condemned, he was taken away….struck for the sins of his people….Though he had done no wrong…

By making his life as a reparation offering and the LORD’s will shall be accomplished through him. Because he surrendered himself to death, was counted among the transgressors, Bore the sins of many and interceded for the transgressors”. Isaiah 53

Jesus did not mean Peter was Satan, just acting like Satan, the tempter in the dessert.  “The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” He said in reply, “It is written One does not live by bread alone,  but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:3-4

Jesus rebuked Peter for thinking as human beings think and not as God thinks, wills.  How many times do we impulsively speak and act without ever checking what God may think? Do we really have a God filter on our tongue before we speak?

When we speak is our focus on us and what we say or what the other person may or may not hear?  An appropriate prayer before we speak to someone, especially a difficult person, may be God help the person I am speaking with hear what You want them to hear.

As Peter was a stumbling block to Jesus fulfilling the will of the Father, are we ever a stumbling blocks to others by our indifference, our pride, our argumentative nature?

 SCRIPTURE

 MARK 8:34-38

The Conditions of Discipleship.

He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.  For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel^* will save it.  What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? What could one give in exchange for his life? Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this faithless and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.

TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW ME

 REFLECTION

 Jesus summoned the crowd. Whenever Jesus summons a crowd in Scripture you know He has some very important information to share. Jesus will lay out what it means to be a disciple.  When one is asked are you are a Christian, a person  may answer yes I believe in Jesus the Savior who died for my sins and rose again from the dead.  But are they are a disciple like we are called to be at our Baptism and confirmed at Confirmation.

What it means to be a disciple is to conform to Jesus, to be Jesus in this world to others.

“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel^* will save it.” What is that all about?  We all have a strong sense of self preservation and that is a gift from God.  So what life is Jesus talking about here.  He is talking about how we live our lives, the choices we make, what is most important to us, where our treasure is.  Is God number 1 in our life choices, is our primary goal to give glory and praise to God each and every day?

“What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” Now here, Jesus is talking about end times, for some of us sooner than later.  You can’t take anything material with you.  All you take is spirit and truth.

How have I loved?  Am I thankful for the life God has gifted me with?  Have I borne witness to Christ or have I been ashamed, embarrassed, fearful, to bear witness to Jesus Christ and the Gospel. Is life eternal with God something I will be compatible with or have I been estranged in my life on earth?

SCRIPTURE

 MARK 9:1-6

 The Transfiguration of Jesus

After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.

 Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them then from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son. “Listen to him.” Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them.

TRANSFIGURATION OF JESUS

REFLECTION

Jesus took his posse, Peter, James and John, up a tall mountain to pray.  It is interesting that Jesus has his own support group.  Maybe you have close friends that share the same faith and you pray together.  Nobody gets to heaven by themselves.

Transfigured is an interesting word.  It is simpler than saying his appearance changed but that is what it means.  Jesus has been with his apostles for three years and they have seen His works but now there is a special affirmation of who Jesus is by no other than God the Father. “This is my beloved Son, listen to Him”

Elijah, the Prophet and Moses, the lawgiver, of the Old Testament appeared with Jesus who is the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy and law.  Jesus shares with Elijah and Moses the fulfillment of their work as Jesus prepares for his last journey on Earth to Jerusalem where He will suffer, die and rise again, freeing all mankind from sin and death as foretold by the Prophets.

 This bible verse in Chapter 9 begins, “After six days.”  Six days after what?  Well, we have to go back to chapter 8 and find that Jesus has told his disciple he was going to Jerusalem to suffer and die. Jesus rebuked Peter as an obstacle for opposing such an idea.  That revelation of a Messiah that must suffer must have been a devastating blow to those who expected an earthly kingdom.

After that grim news, Jesus knowing humanity the way he does decides to bolster the leadership of his apostles with a special vision, “This is my beloved Son, listen to Him” Now that heir faith is affirmed they can bolster the other apostles if and when their faith may waver.

We need to face truth that sometimes just doesn’t make much sense to us.  But we need to trust in God who never gives us more than we can handle, in Jesus Christ the Lord.

SCRIPTURE

MARK 9:14-29

 The Healing of a Boy with a Demon

When they came to the disciples they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them.

Immediately on seeing him, the whole crowd was utterly amazed. They ran up to him and greeted him.

He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I have brought to you my son possessed by a mute spirit. Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so.

 He said to them in reply, “O faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring him to me.” They brought the boy to him. And when he saw him, the spirit immediately threw the boy into convulsions. As he fell to the ground, he began to roll around and foam at the mouth.

Then he questioned his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” He replied, “Since childhood. It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

 Jesus said to him, “If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith. ”Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!” Jesus, on seeing a crowd rapidly gathering, rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it, “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!” Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out. He became like a corpse, which caused many to say, “He is dead!”

But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up. When he entered the house, his disciples asked him in private, “Why could we not drive it out?” He said to them, “This kind can only come out through prayer.”

EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE  TO ONE WHO HAS FAITH

REFLECTION

I place myself in the large crowd watching the father of the possessed son who is frustrated that Jesus’ disciples could not cure him.  I too wonder why, can Jesus give his authority to others, what will Jesus do or say next?  I can’t say that I am any more trusting and believing than the next person in the crowd.

Jesus addresses the crowd, ““O faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you?

That hurts a lot. Is my faith really that weak?  Immediately when the son is brought to Jesus, the boy is thrown into convulsions.  That’s not a good sign.  Has Jesus made matters worse?

But the father has not given up.  He has a sliver of faith left.  He says to Jesus, “But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”  Jesus rightly takes exception to this plea.  What do you mean if I can?  “Everything is possible to one who has faith.  What kind of faith is Jesus talking about?  How do I get this faith?

The disciples ask Jesus “Why could we not drive it out?” He said to them, “This kind can only come out through prayer.”  There we have the answer. Prayer. Prayer. Prayer.  Faith is a gift of the Father.  We need to pray for it.  Our faith can become weak and lead to stumbling and falls.  Sometimes even separation from our Father in heaven

By the gift of faith, the Holy Spirit enables us to enter into relationship with God here on earth.  After death we call that relationship, eternal life.  The disciples of Christ must not only keep the faith and live it, but also confidently spread it by their witness.

 SCRIPTURE

 MARK 9:33-37

The Greatest in the Kingdom

 They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way? But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.

Taking a child he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it he said to them, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.”

WHOEVER RECEIVES A CHILD IN MY NAME

RECEIVES ME

  REFLECTION

 Jesus notices his apostles arguing about something.  Of course he knows what it is; He knows everything even what is hidden.  Can’t hide from Jesus. He will catch us every time. Of course the apostles remained silent like the kid with his hand in cookie jar, who me?

Even the apostles felt uncomfortable about their pride and ambition. Conscience, you know.  A gift to us from God….lets listen to it…really hear…and obey…Thy will be done! “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”Jeremiah 31:33

  “Though He was God, He did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness;^*and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross Phillipians 2:6-11 

 “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all. Service in the name of Jesus is what makes us great in kingdom of God.

 SCRIPTURE

MARK 9:42-48

Temptations to Sin.

Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe [in me] to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire.

 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’

 

REFLECTION

 Jesus is very harsh on anyone who mistreats a child or leads them into sin as He should be. We have the obligation to lead others to virtue so they may safely make it to their final resting place in heaven.

As parents how are we doing around our children, the language we use, the television we watch, how we treat our spouse?  Children are listening and watching!

This Scripture passage may be filled with hyperbole (exaggeration) as some say.  In other words, not to be taken literally, like cutting off your limbs or blinding yourself.  After all, we are to respect our bodies the temple of the Holy Spirit.

But lets think about what Jesus is really saying.  “Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’

Jesus is telling us Gehenna (Hell) is really a very, very, bad place of eternal torment.  That means no end, forever.  Jesus is telling us to avoid it at all costs.  He hopes his warning, short of maiming ourselves, will lead us to replace vice with virtue before it is too late.  Hell is not to be ignored or taken lightly.  The Devil the great deceiver would have you think otherwise.

PRAYER TO ST. MICHAEL

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle,

be our protection against the wickedness

and snares of the devil. 

May God rebuke him we humbly pray;

and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host,

by the power of God,

cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits

who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.

 PS. You older folks like me may remember at the close of every Mass back in the fifties the priest would come to the foot of the altar and say this prayer before going back into the sacristy. I say bring it back, when has the world needed St. Michael’s protection more.

Bring back prayer to St. Michael the Archangel!

SCRIPTURE

MARK 10:1-12

 Marriage and Divorce.

He set out from there and went into the district of Judea [and] across the Jordan. Again crowds gathered around him and, as was his custom, he again taught them. The Pharisees approached and asked, “Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?” They were testing him.

 He said to them in reply, “What did Moses command you?” They replied, “Moses permitted him to write a bill of divorce and dismiss her.” But Jesus told them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts he wrote you this commandment.

 But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother [and be joined to his wife], and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate.” in the house the disciples again questioned him about this. He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

WHAT GOD HAS JOINED TOGETHER, NO HUMAN BEING MUST SEPARATE

REFLECTION

Again, Jesus is being tested by the religious leaders of his time.  They are so jealous and filled with envy that Jesus may replace them as God’s representative on earth that they will go to any extreme to discredit Him.

By quoting the Torah and citing Moses they believe they got Jesus.  Is Jesus a Jew going to against the Torah?  Of course not, Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament.  Jesus throws the Torah right back, at them “What did Moses command you.”  The key word here is command.  The Pharisees replied that Moses permitted a man to give a bill of divorce to his wife.  So no commandment or law here.

Jesus reminds them Moses permitted a bill of divorce because of the hardness of their hearts.  Husbands were abandoning wives and children left to fend on their own without any legal support, even murdering their wives to get rid of them “But from the beginning God made them male and female, one flesh joined together by God never to be separated by man.”

Marriage is a covenant, or a sacred pledge of loyalty with God as our witness between persons, a man and woman. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1643), there are three goods of marriage, unity, fidelity, and openness to children.

Marriage may not be for everyone. Jesus tells us in Matthew 19. “Not everyone can accept this teaching, but only those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can” MATTHEW 19:11-12

SCRIPTURE

 MARK 10:17-23

 The Rich young Man.

As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good?^* No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother.’”

He replied and said to him, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.” Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to [the] poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”  At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”…..

SELL WHAT YOU HAVE  THEN COME FOLLOW ME

 REFLECTION

This young man ran up to Jesus and knelt before Him to ask his question.  This shows the respect this young man had for Jesus.  He was a believer, a follower of sort. The young man addresses Jesus as “Good teacher.”

Jesus is testing the young man when he says, “Why do you address me this way, only God is good?” Does this young man have a special insight from the Spirit? Is this someone who may spread the Good News?

Jesus tests him on the Commandments of the Law.  The young man passes.  But can the Law save you?  Of course not.  If the law could save us, we would never have needed Jesus to atone for our sins.  All the Law does is put a curse on us who fail repeatedly to fulfil the Law.

Jesus looked on the young man with love.  He could see this young man was seeking salvation in a serious manner. “To be saved is to be united to God in Christ and to be “conformed to the image of his Son” Romans 8:29.

Jesus says to the young man, ““You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to [the] poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”  

 We are not sure whether Jesus meant “sell all you have” literally or not.  But this message does not resonate well with most of us that have obligations to family and others.  But we can conform and follow Jesus as a disciple by detaching ourselves from stuff and uniting ourselves to the will of God in our lives, God must come first!

Jesus said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!  Does this mean that people of means or wealth can’t get into heaven and are damned to hell?  Of course not.

People of great possessions have more difficulty conforming to the itinerant preacher, Jesus.  They have way more stuff in their way to give themselves over to Jesus and their neighbor but it can be done by realizing all they have is gift from God and return in kind. “Render to God what is God’s”

 SCRIPTURE

 MARK 10:46-52

The Blind Bartimaeus.

They came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent.

But he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me.” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage; get up, he is calling you.” He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus said to him in reply, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to see.” Jesus told him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.

 THAT I MIGHT SEE!

REFLECTION

On the way to Jericho, there was a blind beggar by the roadside.  I believe it is safe to say this was Bartimaeus’ favorite spot and he was well known by the locals.  Some may have shown compassion to him and others just an annoyance.

There was nothing wrong with Bartimaeus’ ears.  He could hear people talking about Jesus and perhaps even hear Jesus’ voice.  He was not going to let this opportunity pass by, so he cried out, “Jesus Son of David, have pity on me!”

I am struck by Bartimaeus’ faith and humility.  He reminds me of that publican in the temple who went home justified. While the Pharisee in front, boasted how great he was to God, the publican knelt in back, striking his breast, saying, “God be merciful to me a sinner.” LUKE 8:10-13

Others were rebuking this son of Abraham, keep quiet!  We as Christians are supposed to lift our brethren up to Christ, not put them down.  How we treat our neighbors is how God will treat us.

When Jesus called him, Bartimaeus threw aside his cloak, jumped up like John the Baptist leaping in Elizabeth’s womb at the presence of Jesus.

Jesus asks Bartimaeus what he wants Jesus to do for him.  Of course, Jesus knows what he wants. But Jesus wants him to ask, to affirm in words what is in his heart.

Bartimaeus simply answers, “That I might see!” Jesus told him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.

Wow! When we have a close encounter with Jesus in mind or will, do we leap for joy and follow Jesus even more closely? Lord, remove the blinders of material attachments from my heart that I may see clearly to follow you on the way, that I may give glory and honor and praise to the Father the giver of all good things!

 

 

NOTE: The fig tree story is in two parts.  The first part is when Jesus is on His way from Bethany to Jerusalem and the temple cleansing. 

 The second part is Jesus on his way back from the Temple to Bethany.

 SCRIPTURE

Mark 11:12-14; 20-26

Jesus and the withered fig tree

The next day as they were leaving Bethany he was hungry. Seeing from a distance a fig tree in leaf, he went over to see if he could find anything on it. When he reached it he found nothing but leaves; it was not the time for figs. And he said to it in reply, “May no one ever eat of your fruit again!” And his disciples heard it.

 Early, the next morning, as they were walking along, they saw the fig tree withered to its roots. Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.”

 Jesus said to them in reply, “Have faith in God. Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it shall be done for him.

 Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours. When you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive you your transgressions.”

JESUS CURSES THE FIG TREE

 REFLECTION

Why did Jesus curse the fig tree when it was not the time of the year for figs? Jesus saw a fig tree from a distance. Jesus sees a fig tree with leaves, and being hungry, He approaches it hoping to find some fruit, since blossoms of fruit appear before leaves. He finds no figs and curses the fig tree or better said, Jesus calls the fig tree what it is, cursed….just like us when we don’t bear fruit of the Spirit..

 Fig trees are used throughout the Old Testament to stand for Israel. We read in 1 Kings 4:25, “Judah and Israel lived in safety, every man under his vine and his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba…The presence of a fruitful fig tree was considered to be a symbol of blessing and prosperity for the nation of Israel. Likewise, the absence or death of a fig tree would symbolize judgment and rejection.

The LORD said, What do you see, Jeremiah? “Figs,” I replied; “the good ones are very good, but the bad ones very bad, Then this word of the LORD came to me: Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Like these good figs, I will also regard with favor Judah… I will look after them for good and bring them back to this land,

They shall be my people and I will be their God…but for others, like fig trees that are bad…I will make them an object of horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, a reproach and a byword, a taunt and a curse, in all the places to which I will drive them. JEREMIAH 24:3-9

Symbolically, the fig tree represented the spiritual deadness of Israel, who while very religious outwardly with all the sacrifices and ceremonies, were spiritually barren because of their sins.

Jesus, also in a sense, is denouncing “unfaithful” Christians of today…that is people who profess to be Christians but have no evidence of relationship with Christ. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father will enter.” MATTHEW 7:21

We too must bear good fruit as witnesses to Christ lest we be cursed, Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for Me, either. These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” MATTHEW 25:46

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good  is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.  JAMES 2:14-15

SCRIPTURE

Mark 11:15-19; 27-33

The cleansing of the Temple (God’s House)

They came to Jerusalem, and on entering the temple area he began to drive out those selling and buying there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. He did not permit anyone to carry anything through the temple area.

Then he taught them saying, Is it not written: My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples?  But you have made it a den of thieves.” The chief priests and the scribes came to hear of it and were seeking a way to put him to death, yet they feared him because the whole crowd was astonished at his teaching.

The chief priests, scribes, and elder approached Jesus outside temple area and said to Him, “By what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do them?” Jesus said to them, “I shall ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was John’s baptism of heavenly or of human origin? Answer me.”

They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say, ‘[Then] why did you not believe him?’ But shall we say, ‘Of human origin’?”—they feared the crowd, for they all thought John really was a prophet. So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” Then Jesus said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

JESUS CLEANSES THE TEMPLE

 REFLECTION

Jesus had just arrived at Jerusalem amid great fanfare and great expectations, but then proceeds to cleanse the Temple and curse the barren fig tree. Both had significance as to the spiritual condition of Israel. With His cleansing of the Temple, Jesus was effectively denouncing Israel’s worship of God.

Why did Jesus in particular disrupt the money changers and those that sold doves? It is about exploitation of the poor and oppressed.  Money changers were charging high interest of those Jews coming from many nations to worship at the temple who had to change their currency for temple currency to pay the temple tax. (oppressing the alien)  Lambs were the usual sacrifice but if you couldn’t afford a lamb then two doves would do. Those who sold the doves were exploiting the poor.

. . . do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place . . . Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely…and go after other gods that you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house…and say, `We are delivered!’ — Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I myself have seen it, says the LORD. JEREMIAH 7:6, 9-11 

In cleansing the Temple and cursing the fig tree, Jesus pronounces His coming judgment of Israel…Perhaps his judgment on us as well if we are Christians only in appearances. Religious words and appearances are not enough to guarantee salvation.  There must be genuine fruit evidenced in the life of the person.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. MATTHEW 7:11

The chief priests and scribes heard about the Temple event and were seeking a way to put Jesus to death but feared the crowds who were so moved by his teachings. Jesus teaches with authority.

The chief priests and scribes want to challenge this authority so they approach Jesus, “By what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do them? But Jesus is ready for them, as always.

Jesus asks them a question that He knows they can’t answer because on the one hand they would admit their guilt of not following John the Baptist and call to repentance. Or on the other hand enrage the followers of John the Baptist if they called him of human origin. For John’s followers considered him a prophet of God.

So Jesus has called their bluff again and they weakly say “I don’t know.” Jesus replies, ““Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”  Jesus may have cleansed the Temple but has made little difference in the hearts of these religious leaders of the time.

Let us pray that the Spirit of God will cleanse our hearts from attachments and false gods, that we may be clean of heart, our number one priority is giving glory, praise, and thanksgiving to our God, giver of all good things. “Blessed are the clean of heart for they shall see God.” MATTHEW 5:8

 

 

NOT ONE STONE WILL BE LEFT UPON ANOTHER

SCRIPTURE

MARK 13:1-8; 21-23

 End times

As he was making his way out of the temple area one of his disciples said to him, “Look, teacher, what stones and what buildings!  Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be one stone left upon another that will not be thrown down.”

As he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple area, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, Tell us, when will this happen, and what sign will there be when all these things are about to come to an end?” Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one deceives you.  Many will come in my name saying, ‘I am he,’ and they will deceive many.

False messiahs and false prophets will arise and will perform signs and wonders in order to mislead, if that were possible, the elect. Be watchful! I have told it all to you beforehand.

 “Watch out for yourselves. They will hand you over to the courts. You will be beaten in synagogues. You will be arraigned before governors and kings because of me, as a witness before them. .But the gospel must first be preached to all nations.

REFLECTION

Mark Chapter 13 deals with End Times. End times in this chapter of Mark can refer to destruction of Jerusalem, the end of the world or our own death on earth.  There is something for everyone here, those that lived in the time of Jesus and those living today. In these verses Jesus is foretelling the destruction of the temple and sacking of Jerusalem by the Romans.

Jesus also warns of false teachers, false leaders that will take advantage when Jesus ascends to the Father.  Some of us may say if only Jesus was still with us, I would follow him, Jesus is with us in word and sacrament.  Watch and be on our guard less we be led astray by false teachers and false gods.

SCRIPTURE

MARK 13:11-13

When they lead you away and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say.  But say whatever will be given to you at that hour. For it will not be you who are speaking but the Holy Spirit. Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.

REFLECTION

 “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you…   If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. John 15:18-20

Today we are persecuted by the media, by laws of this world, and sometimes even criticized and shamed in our own families.  In all instances God must come first.  Those who persevere will be saved. Just ask St. Paul.

I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me…The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Timothy 4:7-8; 18

The Coming of the Son of Man.

SCRIPTURE

MARK 13:24-27

 “But in those days after that tribulation the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

And then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in the clouds’ with great power and glory, and then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.

REFLECTION

 Now Jesus has broadened his discourse on end times to include the end of the world and the end of time.  In the End, Jesus comes to judge the living and the dead.  He will send His angels to gather His elect. It reminds me of the old black spiritual, When the saints go marching in.

Oh, when the saints go marching in
Oh, when the saints go marching in
Oh Lord I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in.

Oh, when the stars fall from the sky
Oh, when the stars fall from the sky
Oh Lord I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in…..

I hope and pray we will all be in that number.  Pray for your family, your friends, your enemies too.

SCRIPTURE

 MARK 12: 30-36

Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come. I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’”

REFLECTION

 The key here is to be watchful.  No one knows but the Father when Jerusalem will be sacked, no one knows the time of their own death, and no one knows when the end of heaven and earth as we know it will be.  Trust the Father.  Jesus did, “into your hands I commend my spirit.”  Work as if everything depended on you, Pray like everything depended on God.

We know we will be judged by our works from Last Judgment discourse in Matthew 25:31-46 “Whatever you do to the least of these, you do to me” Loving our neighbor is how we show in concrete ways our love for God.

Let us not be like the five foolish virgins in Matthew 25:2 who were not prepared when the bridegroom came.  They had no fuel in their lamps.  They had no light to shine before the bridegroom.  Let our light shine everywhere we go.  We are disciples of Jesus, grateful and proud, to be a disciple, never to be intimidated by a trendy chaotic world.

 JESUS CHRIST YESTERDAY, TODAY, FOREVER

HEBREWS 13:8

 CHRIST THE KING TAKES HIS THRONE REVELATIONS 4:2-3

 THIS CONCLUDES THE CATEGORY GOSPEL OF MARK.THE REMAINING CHAPTERS OF MARK ARE COVERED IN HOLY WEEK ARCHIVES  ON MY HOME PAGE