Month: July 2018

Text: Mark 6:45-56
Date: Pentecost X Proper 12B + 8/29/18

Jesus is the one true God who comes to rescue His people from sin and death, the same God who appeared to His people of old of whom the scripture says, “who alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the sea” (Job 9:8), and “Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen” (Ps 77:19). This is the significance of Jesus walking on the sea, that we may know, believe and confess that Jesus is God come to rescue us. Continue reading “He Will Rescue Us”

Text: Mark 6:30-44
Date: Pentecost IX Proper 11b St. Mary Magdalene + 7/22/18

Jesus said to the apostles, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” He might as well have said it to the entire crowd because they went around the lake and got there ahead of them. In fact He did say that as when He saw the great crowd He didn’t utter exasperation or complaint but rather “He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.” He had led them away by themselves to a desolate place to rest a while. That’s what He does this morning and every time He invites us to gather with and around Him in Word and Sacrament and prayer. But as the apostles, the crowd and we look around at this otherwise desolate place we see or are to see something more. After a busy and sometimes contentious beginning Jesus gives us a rest, that is, He gives us a glimpse, a vision of our destination, namely, paradise and heaven where we are to see and to know that the eternal life awaiting us in the day of resurrection is both the restoration of life the way God originally intended it to be, but more, even better! Continue reading “Meal of Compassion”

Text: Mark 6:14-29
Date: Pentecost VIII (Proper 10b) + 7/15/18

So far in Mark’s Gospel we have been told of the initial faith in Jesus on the part of some and the increasing rejection of Jesus by many, first by the officials of the temple, then by the crowds—they laughed at Him in derision when confronted by His power to raise a dead child—then by even His hometown former friends and relatives. This rejection will grow to be the main trajectory of His earthly ministry leading to His redemptive goal of being rejected to death on a cross. We even hear that His closest followers will experience the same thing. Continue reading “Zombie Apocalypse”

Text: Mark 6:1-13
Date: Pentecost VII (Proper 9b) + 7/8/18

Anyone who is even the least bit aware of the news of the day has noticed the increasing anger, incivility, and even hatred and physical violence displayed of late in political speech of every kind. Some may even be shocked if not at least disturbed or offended at the raw, offensive and uncivil words being thrown at people like bombs meant to destroy reputations and basic dignity. Continue reading “Are You Listening or Not?”