We have reached the final chapter of Mark’s account of Jesus. Betrayed and crucified, the one who healed and raised people from the dead is himself laid in a borrowed tomb. The mourning of friends and family has begun. Confusion plagues the followers, and fear for their own lives has begun to sink in. The … [Read more…]
Being from Cyrene, Simon and his family must have travelled over 1,000 miles to get to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover feast. Whether Jewish by birth or conversion, their dedication was unmistakable. Whether they had brought their own lamb, or purchased one along the way, they would have been ready to fulfill all that was … [Read more…]
It begins at what has become a familiar scene with Jesus: a dinner party hosted by an unlikely host. The man is known only as Simon the leper, but the likelihood is that he would have better been described as Simon: a former leper. At the time, leprosy was considered highly contagious and those afflicted … [Read more…]
This week’s reading includes the account of a young man whose wealth keeps him from following Jesus. In fact, Jesus goes on to suggest that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a wealthy person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Given that a good chunk of … [Read more…]
The account of Jesus and the Syrophoenician woman is one that has often troubled me and so has also intrigued me. It represents Jesus as highly exclusive in a way that we aren’t accustomed to. In fact, in a day where inclusion is highly valued, this passage can be down- right embarrassing. (Interestingly, the fact … [Read more…]
