2nd Sunday of Lent - B (February 25, 2018)

“My Beloved Son”

Mark 9: 2-10

We have completed exactly 10 days, which is a quarter, of Lent. 

Today’s Gospel offers us a chance to evaluate our Lenten journey.  It is not about how good a job we have been doing with our Lenten practices.  It is about how much we are becoming truer to our identity as children of God.

This identity is the gift that Jesus, the “beloved Son” of God shares with us by his death on the cross and his resurrection.  The vision of the transfiguration of Jesus calls us to be mindful of the same transformation God has begun in us with our baptism. 

  

At the end of this Lenten journey, as we celebrate the gift of the new and eternal life, may we become more like Jesus Christ, the “beloved Son” of God.    

 Image:  Carl Bloch, Transfiguration of Jesus.  www.wikipedia.org

First Sunday of Lent - B (February 18, 2018)

“The Kingdom of God is at hand”

Mark 1: 12-15

While in the desert, Jesus confronted the power of Satan and of wild beasts. 

Then, “after John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: ‘This is the time of fulfillment.  The kingdom of God is at hand’.”

In this short and to-the-point style, Mark introduces the new age proclaimed by Jesus.

Here, Mark also presents a stark contrast of two authorities.   One authority relied on control and power that unjustly arrested John who was sent by God.  The other is the authority of God’s kingdom.  [1]

Lent gives us the time for self-examination – am I building and relying on anything that is not of God’s kingdom?  Then, Lent affords us the time to reorient ourselves to the way of God’s kingdom.  

Image source: www.agnusday.org

-----------------

[1] John Petty, www.progressiveinvolvement.com

6th Sunday - B (February 11, 2018)

 A Leper Who Breaks Protocols 

Mark 1:40-45

“A leper came to Jesus” and spoke to him.

He was breaking social and religious protocols. 

He must have heard of Jesus and his mercy.  What he heard about Jesus must be so consoling that it gave him enough courage to come to Jesus and speak to him.

And Jesus did not disappoint him.  He was “moved with pity” for the man.  Not only did Jesus speak to him, he even “stretched out his hands and touched him.”

We are the Body of Christ in our world today.  Who is the Jesus that we are presenting to people in our thoughts, attitudes, words, and action?  How powerful is Jesus’ mercy that others see in us?

Image source:  http://www.freebibleimages.org

5th Sunday - B (February 4, 2018)

Availability

Mark 1: 29-39

Jesus is available to people, especially those who are in need.  He heals the sick even on the sabbath.  (Last week, we learned that it was a sabbath when he went to the synagogue, and now, he goes to the house of Simon and Andrew from the synagogue).

He makes himself available to God in prayer.  In this way, he also is available to himself and his needs.

And he is available to the mission that God has given him, not allowing success or popularity to tie him down.  Mark recognizes that in this way, Jesus has already accomplished so much while we are still in Chapter 1 of his Gospel. 

Jesus could be so available because of his singlemindedness about God-given mission.  “For this purpose have I come,” says Jesus.

Image source:  www.agnusday.orgwww.agnusday.org