Category: Uncategorized

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Gospel: Mark 6: 14-29

King Herod heard about Jesus, for his fame had become widespread,
and people were saying,
“John the Baptist has been raised from the dead;
that is why mighty powers are at work in him.”
Others were saying, “He is Elijah”;
still others, “He is a prophet like any of the prophets.”
But when Herod learned of it, he said,
“It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up.”

Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prison
on account of Herodias, 
the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married.
John had said to Herod,
“It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
Herodias harbored a grudge against him
and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so.
Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man,
and kept him in custody.
When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed,
yet he liked to listen to him.
Herodias had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday,
gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers,
and the leading men of Galilee.
His own daughter came in and performed a dance
that delighted Herod and his guests.
The king said to the girl,
“Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.” 
He even swore many things to her,
“I will grant you whatever you ask of me,
even to half of my kingdom.”
She went out and said to her mother,
“What shall I ask for?”
Her mother replied, “The head of John the Baptist.”
The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request,
“I want you to give me at once on a platter
the head of John the Baptist.”
The king was deeply distressed,
but because of his oaths and the guests
he did not wish to break his word to her.
So he promptly dispatched an executioner
with orders to bring back his head.
He went off and beheaded him in the prison.
He brought in the head on a platter
and gave it to the girl.
The girl in turn gave it to her mother.
When his disciples heard about it,
they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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The story does not end well for King Herod.

He’s already made a series of horrible choices, including the beheading of John the Baptist, a decision he made while he was drunk.

But we’ve captured Herod at an interesting point in his journey; he’s “perplexed” – haunted – by John.

Even after John’s death, the Gospel tells us, “Herod kept trying to see him.” Meaning, he was still interested in John’s message.

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That, to me, represents where so many in our world are at.

Thankfully, few if any are as deranged as Herod. But many are “perplexed” by the Gospel message; they’re interested, but undecided. 

Faith can seem risky; difficult; life-changing.

Just consider the ramifications faith would’ve brought into Herod’s life. For starters, he would have to stop living with his brother’s wife!

And while he didn’t accept the Gospel message from John, others might accept it from us.

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In what ways do I share my faith with others?

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May we be emboldened by the life of John the Baptist, who was never afraid to speak the truth. Who knows, it just may change a life.

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Image credits: (1) Pin on Quick Saves (2) Bartolome Esteban Murillo, Saint John the Baptist in the Wilderness (3) KCBI 90.9FM

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Gospel: Mark 6: 7-13

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.
The Twelve drove out many demons,
and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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The disciples must have felt superhuman, as Jesus gave them the power of his Spirit. As the Gospel tells us, they’re able to cast out demons and heal the sick at the drop of a hat.

There’s only one problem: they’re not allowed to take anything with them for the journey.

As powerful as they may be, they’re still human; they’ll feel the twinge of hunger within a matter of hours, and by day’s end, will also need a place to stay. 

Palestine could be terribly cold at night.

Jesus structured their mission this way, teaching them that they cannot survive on their own; like us, they’ll need the help of neighbors.

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What a hard lesson to learn at times: self-reliance is a myth. No one can make it through life alone.

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Just as the disciples needed to find food, shelter, and encouragement, so we all need support along the journey of life. 

How am I a friend for others? And who is that friend for me?

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“Take nothing for the journey,” Jesus says. 

Instead, look for ways to share your life with others. 

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Image credits: (1) Fritz von Uhde: Journey to Bethlehem 1890 (2) Two by Two – Ahead of Himself, Kingdom Harbor (3) Transforming Life Ministries

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Gospel: Mark 5: 21-43

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat
to the other side, 
a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea.
One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward.
Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying,
“My daughter is at the point of death.
Please, come lay your hands on her
that she may get well and live.”
He went off with him
and a large crowd followed him.

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.”

While he was still speaking,
people from the synagogue official’s house arrived and said,
“Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?” 
Disregarding the message that was reported,
Jesus said to the synagogue official,
“Do not be afraid; just have faith.”
He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside
except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.
When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official,
he caught sight of a commotion,
people weeping and wailing loudly.
So he went in and said to them,
“Why this commotion and weeping?
The child is not dead but asleep.”
And they ridiculed him.
Then he put them all out.
He took along the child’s father and mother
and those who were with him
and entered the room where the child was.
He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,” 
which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!”
The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around.
At that they were utterly astounded.
He gave strict orders that no one should know this
and said that she should be given something to eat.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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If you walked into my office this morning, you’d probably notice a large crucifix hanging on the wall, a framed picture of Jesus and the Apostle John, and a few family photos.

But one object that often catches people’s attention is a 12-inch Spiderman figurine, standing proudly on one of my bookshelves.

First-time visitors often ask, “Father, what’s that doing in your office?”

“Spiderman reminds me of Jesus,” I tell them.

Like Jesus, Spiderman went around doing good. As far as I remember, he had a servant’s heart.

But like Spiderman, Jesus had one great limitation: he could only be in one place at a time.

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In today’s Gospel, for example, Jesus is headed to heal the synagogue official’s daughter. While on the way, a woman who’s been hemorrhaging for the last twelve years touches the tassel of his cloak and, instantly, she’s healed.

Meanwhile, countless others are suffering from leprosy, illness, possession, or have children at home lying sick in bed.

Wouldn’t the world have been a better place if Jesus could’ve been in two places at once?

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Through us, now he is.

Although we may not raise children from the dead like Jesus did, we can still wipe the tears of those who weep, fill empty stomachs, visit the lonely, forgive those who trespass against us, heal the sick, and inspire others to lead holy lives.

Unlike Spiderman, who was confined to his earthly body, you and I are now the Body of Christ on earth. 

So, how might we continue Jesus’ ministry of hope and healing today?

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Image credits: (1)The Daily Mash (2) Jesus Miracles, Pinterest (3) sevennotesofgrace