Month: September 2018

Text: Mark 9:30-37
Date: Pentecost XVIII Proper 20b + 9/23/18

The time was coming. As it got closer Jesus was busy preparing the Twelve apostles for what He knew would be the hardest lesson, namely, that His horrific death on the cross, though it would look like defeat would be the display of God’s greatest love. That preparation was in plain words: “The Son of man is being delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and having been killed, after three days he shall rise again.” This must have sounded like some parable to them, a story to teach them some deep proof. But it was no story, no poetic parable. It was the truth, the raw and real truth. We’re sure they really didn’t believe that! For if you don’t believe in Jesus’ innocent and bloody death how can you believe in a real resurrection from the dead? Mark tells us straight out, “But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.” Continue reading “Afraid of Love?”

Text: Mark 9:14-29
Date: Pentecost XVII + 9/16/18

Have you ever seen a miracle? God reaching His hand right in front of your face performing something that cannot be explained in any other way? Have you ever explained away a miracle? Missed some amazing intervention by God only because of the distractions and diversions of the details of daily life? Today’s Gospel is a little lesson about faith, what it is and what it is not. Continue reading “Frenzy Calmed”

Text: Mark 7:31-37
Date: Pentecost XVI Proper 18 + 9/9/18

With Mark chapter 7 we have the end of the first part of Mark’s Gospel. As also the other Gospels reflect the earthly ministry of Jesus began with a bright ray of hope. The promised Messiah was predicted to come performing mighty works of healing as we heard in today’s Old Testament reading from the prophet Isaiah, “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy” (Is 35:5-6). And there are so many more such passages. The first half of Mark’s Gospel is filled with mighty signs all intended to announce that the Messiah has come. Today’s sign especially reflects our Old Testament with the healing of a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment. The people seemed to have gotten the idea as “they were astonished beyond measure, saying, ‘He has done all things well, He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.’” Continue reading “Is God Deaf?”

Text: Mark 7:14-23
Date: Pentecost XV Proper 17 + 9/2/18

One of the final words from God to His people in our Old Testament reading for today from the last book of Moses reiterated the importance and blessing of the Law He gave to His people with the reminder, “listen to the statutes and the just decrees that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you.” And to this day the Church, preachers and true theologians are careful, according to God’s command in this text, not to add to the word nor take from it. This Word will outshine the wisdom of the world so that people will say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” But then one more warning, “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life.” Did God have a hunch that they and we needed these reminders and warnings? Continue reading “Have You Forgotten?”