gospel-of-mark

May we still be willing to be amazed and afraid, in awe and wonder, of Jesus!

Some people will deny the divinity of Jesus on account of the differences between the synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke, which all follow a similar outline and similar accounting of the life of Jesus, and the Gospel of John, which is very different in regard to how much of the divinity of Jesus is expressed in its theological presentation. Those who would deny the divinity of Jesus following this proposal, state that the author of John is adding to Jesus that which was not there and that in the synoptic Gospels there are no accounts of the divinity of Jesus.
The assumption that there is no accounting of the divinity of Jesus in the synoptic Gospels does not present a true assessment of these texts. This view is not supported with a careful reading. The very first line of the Gospel of Mark states: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ [the Son of God]” (Mk 1:1). This verse may often be read as merely an introductory device, and even if we drop the words the Son of God, bracketed because there are some manuscripts that do not include them, Mark was saying something very clear and very subversive when he used the word gospel. The Greek rendering of the word gospel is, euangelion, which we interpret as good news. This is still pretty much, “Ho, hum,” unless we understand the context of how euangelion was used during the time of Jesus.
This word was used by the Roman emperor who would send his emissaries to proclaim the good news throughout the empire announcing his birthday, or an imperial victory. No one else dared to use these words in a public forum as Mark is doing with the very first line of his Gospel. This was the prerogative of the emperor. Mark was covertly stating in the opening words of his Gospel that Caesar is not Lord. Jesus is.
Jesus only fourteen verses later would claim: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mk 1:15). The kingdom of God is at hand in the presence of Jesus. This is the euangelion that we believe. The gospel, the good news, is that the Son of God has become one with us in the flesh, to dwell among us.
In today’s opening verse from Mark, we have read or heard; The disciples were on the way, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus went ahead of them. They were amazed, and those who followed were afraid (Mk 10:32). Again, this verse may be read over quickly as a literary device so we can get to the good stuff, yet again, Mark is saying a lot. We may miss the context, but the readers and hearers during his time would not have. They would have recognized that “amazed and afraid” were words used in their sacred texts to describe the reactions to God, his messengers the angels, and/or the work of God.
The Good News, proclaimed to us through the tome of salvation history, hidden in the Old and revealed in the New Testament, is that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. He is our Lord, he is our Savior and Redeemer. He became a human being, he became one with us in all things except sin, and dwelt among us. Jesus did so that we might become divinized, become God through our participation in his life. May we too, like the disciples, be amazed and afraid, in awe of the magnitude of this reality. How many times have we heard this Good News, yet have just gone about our business, as if nothing significant was said?
Let us resist the temptation to do that here. We can become so busy, so caught up in just getting through all that we have to do, that we forget what is really important and who is really important. We can take for granted those that are near to us, not out of any malice or lack of care, but just because life happens and we get caught up in doing and completing that which needs, or we think, needs to be done. May we spend some time slowing down and appreciating our life in communion with God and one another. May we fully appreciate the gift that Jesus has offered us, which is a relationship with him and his Father so that we may experience the love of the Holy Spirit. In so embracing and developing the gift of our relationship with God, we can better experience the dignity of our humanity, and hopefully begin to recognize again the same dignity that is present in each and every one of us.
Photo: Jesus was willing to give his life for us, to free us from the disfunction we know and lead us to experience the love of the Father!
Link for the Mass readings for Wednesday, May 27, 2026

Let us receive and tend well the seeds Jesus sows by hearing and allowing them to transform us.

Each of the elements of Jesus’ Parable of the Sower is worthy of meditation and reflection. A very good practice would be to take some time to reflect on each aspect and ask what limits the germination and growth of the seeds God has sown in our lives, and also what helps us to bring about successful growth and a successful yield. When did we experience God’s word but have it almost immediately snatched away; when did we gain an insight, experience joy from his word and guidance, but did not in any way put the learning into practice; how many times have trials, hardship, lack of courage,  anxiety, or outright persecution, tempted us from stretching out of our comfort zone, and we instead withdrew, not wanting to risk growth?

Many of us can relate to: “Those sown among thorns are another sort. They are the people who hear the word, but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit” (Mk 4:18-19). Distractions and diversions pull at us from within and without, from one second to the next. So much seeks to undo us, tear us down, and drive us into states of anxiety, despondency, cynicism, and depression that can lead to times of spiritual desolation.

So many apparent goods and false truths entice us and feed our desires for power, wealth, fame, and pleasure. Material temptations offer promises of fulfillment but shortly after the purchase leave us feeling empty. All the while, there is so much good that needs to be done and so much work to do. Even if we are willing to look beyond ourselves to be of help, we may not even be sure how to serve or where to begin.

Jesus offers us, with the Parable of the Sower, his promise, that when we prepare our hearts and minds to receive his word it is like tilling rich soil. His opening words, “Hear this!” (Mark 4:3) is a call not to just hear his words but to also activate our imaginations, meditate and ponder on what Jesus is saying. The seeds of Jesus’ words will have a better chance to take root, sprout, mature, and to bear fruit when we break into those areas of hard ground and dig out rocks and roots: the hardness of our hearts, prejudgments, and pride. We also need to be willing to cut away the vines and dig up the weeds: anxieties, fears, insecurities, false securities and impulsive behaviors.

When we give ourselves intentional moments to inhale deeply, discern each thought, situation, purchase, and action, meditate, pray and seek God’s guidance, discern with trusted family, friends, colleagues, and classmates, we will weed out our immediate reactions and defensive choices. Pruning happens when we learn from past experiences, are patient with God, ourselves, and each other, and resist giving into past habitual choices, disordered affections, allow ourselves to heal from past experiences, and risk expanding from our comfort zone.

Jesus knows where we need to repent, where are wounds are hidden, and where we need to expand. When Jesus teaches, he is inviting us to listen but: “To hear means far more than to take in with the ears: it means to absorb, to apply deeply into one’s heart, to allow the message to sink in and change one’s whole life” (Healy, 83). May we resist the temptation to just read over these words and be on to the next activity. Instead let us allow ourselves some time to savor this parable, so to better prepare the ground of our soul to receive and be transformed by the words of Jesus sown and: “bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold” (Mk 4:20).

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Photo: Trees that last send their roots deep into the earth, may we allow ourselves to be rooted deeply in Jesus, his words, and his love for us.

Healy, Mary. The Gospel of Mark. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2008.

Link for the Mass readings for Wednesday, January 28, 2026

May Mark help us to experience the life of Jesus in our own lives.

Jesus quoted no one. He spoke from his own authority. Nor did he shy away from the attacks of demons.

The Gospel of John picks up the source of Jesus’ authority from the beginning line of his Gospel. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (Jn 1:1). Jesus is the Word, the Logos in Greek. Who would have more authority to speak about the word of God, than the Logos, the Word, himself?

The authority of Jesus was not only limited to teaching but restoration. Jesus is the light who shines in the darkness. His Father sent him to invite us to receive the restoration of the likeness we have lost because of the Fall. As he was teaching in the synagogue he expelled the unclean spirit of a man when he said, “Quiet! Come out of him” (Mk 1:25)! The unclean spirit would not go easy, but could not remain in the presence of Jesus and the command of his word.

Jesus came to teach in the synagogue and the authority of his teaching identified the evil in the midst of the congregation. “Jesus’ teaching has the intrinsic effect of exposing evil so that it can be expelled” (Healy 2008, 42). His first act to follow his address that the kingdom of God was at hand was to begin to undo the disfigurement of the good that God his Father had created. The time of fulfillment was indeed at hand in the coming of Jesus and he began his work by proclaiming and teaching with authority and exorcising his authority over demons.

If you haven’t read the Bible ever, have not for a long time, have been away for a while, or could benefit from a deeper dive, I invite you to read the Gospel of Mark. Do so with the intention not of reading a history book or novel, but to read, study, and above all pray with Mark’s account. In this way, we come to not just know about Jesus, but know Jesus and experience his authority in our own lives. We will come to experience the same awe and wonder of those who experienced Jesus in person.

A great way to do so is to read along with the Church as we are reading the Gospel daily right now in the lectionary or at your own pace, say five to ten minutes a day. What may be even better is to read a short section at a time, read it over two to three times, and meditate on the passage. Mark is the shortest of the four Gospels, it is quick moving, and action-packed; the James Patterson of the Gospels. The accounts lend themselves particularly well to visualizing, and placing yourself in the reading as if you were watching a movie. Open your heart and mind to what Jesus wants to reveal or communicate to you in the silence of your heart.

We can also receive a word or phrase and carry it with us through the day, such as from today’s account. Jesus can be the light that shines in our own darkness and bring us healing. We may not be dealing with being possessed, but if we are experiencing negativity, temptation, stress, feeling indecisive, or divided we can call on Jesus’ words and speak in his name, “Quiet!”, “Silence!”, or “Peace be still!” and receive through the authority of his word his healing presence. We do not have to ever journey alone. We have the gift of prayer and the Holy Spirit to help to bring the words of Scripture alive. Jesus is present with us, ready to help us and others to be aware that the kingdom of God is at hand!

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Photo: A great introduction and resource to reading the Bible is The Word on Fire Bible: The Gospels. (Nails not included.)

Link for the Mass readings for Tuesday, January 14, 2025