“For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.” – Mark 12:44 The poor widow in our Gospel passage for Sunday went all in, contributing all she had to glorify God. She gave the last of what she had, “all she had to live on” in some translations. The Lord looked into her heart as she gave and saw the disposition she…
Jesus, son of David, have pity on me. – Mark 10:47 In the early days of the faith, Christianity was called “The Way.” In our Gospel passage for Sunday (Mark 10:46- 52), Blind Bartimaeus “followed Jesus on the way” after his healing. He became a disciple! Bartimaeus recognized his need for a savior. He knew he couldn’t save or heal himself. He cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me.” What a good…
“Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?’” …Philip answered him, “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little.” – John 6:13-14 I often feel like I am running low. Like I don’t have enough time, energy, money, or other resources to do the things that God is calling me to do. I know in my mind that I have a “poverty…
He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him. Mark 1:27 There are many accounts in Mark’s Gospel where demons or unclean spirits obey Jesus. Mark 3:11 tells us that “whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him and shout, ‘You are the Son of God.’” Chapter 5 shows Jesus commanding the many demons called “Legion” out of the Gerasene Demoniac (Mark 5:1-20). As we travel through Mark in this year’s…
Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they abandoned their nets and followed him. – Mark 1:17-18 Has God ever come along and changed everything in your life? Maybe it was a decision that caused you to move away from your home to take a new job in a new city. Or perhaps a family member needed your help, and you had to rearrange your life…
Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We also will come with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. – John 21:3 In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus revealed Himself to the disciples after His Resurrection in a familiar way. He first called them when they were fishermen in this same place (see Luke 5:1-11). Sometimes the Bible names the Lake…
“The jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, – 1 Kings 17:10 Our Scripture passages about the poor widows who gave generously cause me to reflect on what I would be willing to give away out of love of God and others. I know that I do not have a perfectly generous heart. What is it that I am stingy or selfish with? Is it the “safe” space…
A “masterclass” is a lesson given by an expert to knowledgeable students. Thank you, St. Mark, for blessing us with a masterclass in prayer in this Sunday’s Gospel! Here we have the story of Blind Bartimaeus, the poor beggar who heard Jesus passing by and called out for healing. He had a dialogue with Jesus—that’s prayer! If St. Mark taught us in person, here are some high points he might hit. Approach prayer with listening…
For all of you are children of the light and children of the day. – 1 Thessalonians 5:5 In our second reading this Sunday, St. Paul tells us that we who follow Christ are the “children of the light” (1 Thessalonians 5:5). What does it look like for us to live as children of the light? Children are made in the image and likeness of their parents. They often look like their parents, bearing their…
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light. Matthew 11:28-30 Rest, Little One, rest in Me. I will take care of you. I will take care of all things. I am your God and I…