GOSPEL OF MARK CHAPTERS 5-6

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!