John the Baptist

Posted on December 8, 2023 by Friar Musings

This coming Sunday is the 2nd Sunday of Advent. John the Baptist is a crucial figure in the history of revelation and redemption. In retrospect, his appearance in the wilderness was the most important event in the life of Israel for more than three hundred years. The absence of a prophet throughout this period had been interpreted to signify that the prophetic task was accomplished. Yet all clung to the hope that the “faithful prophet” would appear, the Prophet like Moses, whose coming would signal the events of the “last days” (Deut. 18:15–19; 1 Macc. 4:42–46; 14:44). The very fact of John’s appearance was an eschatological event of the first magnitude, and signified that the decisive turning point in the history of salvation was at hand. It was John, the preacher of radical repentance, who initiated the messianic crisis. To speak of the gospel of Jesus is to speak of the good news which began with John. Continue reading →

John or Jesus?

Posted on December 7, 2023 by Friar Musings

This coming Sunday is the 2nd Sunday of Advent. 2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way. 3 A voice of one crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.’”

We often interpret vv. 2-3 in light of Matthew and Luke where they clearly refer to John the Baptist. John is presented before the OT quotes are given. However, in Mark, the only person who has been named prior to the quotes is Jesus. Note also, for those who have difficulty memorizing scripture, Mark’s quote is a hybrid: v. 2 seems to come from Ex 23:20 (LXX) and Mal 3:1 (MT) and v. 3 from Isaiah 40:3, but not quoted exactly. Continue reading →

Another Question

Posted on December 6, 2023 by Friar Musings

This coming Sunday is the 2nd Sunday of Advent. In the previous post we considered some questions that are posed by the very beginning of Mark’s gospel. In the previous post we considered the meaning of the words of Mark 1:1 – “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God – taking on the Marcan intent of “beginning” and “gospel.” Now we consider the phrase “Christ the Son of God.” A phrase too familiar to us. But what did the listeners of the 1st century hear, consider, and conclude? Continue reading →

Questions At The Beginning

Posted on December 5, 2023 by Friar Musings

This coming Sunday is the 2nd Sunday of Advent. Mark begins his writing with a statement by the narrator: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ (the Son of God).” For the people in Mark’s narrative the realization of who Jesus is will come only in starts and stops. As readers of this gospel, right from the beginning, we are given the answer to the question, “Who is he?” We already know this narrative is good news for us; news about what will happen to us and for us. Yet even as the opening answers big questions, we are left with other important questions, ones that will help us to plumb the depth of this good news. Continue reading →

A Reminder about the Readings of Advent

Posted on December 4, 2023 by Friar Musings

This coming Sunday is the 2nd Sunday of Advent. As noted in last week’s commentary, the season of Advent has its own goals, purpose, and sense. That does not include jumping right into the infancy narratives. While one might argue that is where the story of Jesus begins in “time,” it is not a complete idea to describe what is unfolding in “time” but has been planned since the foundation of the world. The danger of beginning with the infancy narratives is that the real story of salvation can get lost in the all-too-familiar Christmas scenes. Those scenes will be celebrated in their own time and place – the Christmas season. But this is Advent. Continue reading →

The Wilderness

Posted on December 4, 2023 by Friar Musings

This coming Sunday is the 2nd Sunday of Advent in Lectionary Cycle B. As noted in a previous commentary, the gospels of the Season of Advent follow a particular pattern. For the Second Sunday of Advent the Gospel readings focus on the preaching and ministry of John the Baptist as the precursor or forerunner of Jesus, the one who came to “Prepare the Way of the Lord,” by calling the people to turn back to God. The readings often include passages from the Old Testament, particularly from the book of Isaiah. This Sunday the first reading is taken from Isaiah 40 and succinctly proclaims: “A voice cries out: In the desert prepare the way of the LORD! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!” All of these first reading OT prophecies are associated with John the Baptist, and his role as the one who fulfills these prophecies is emphasized. Like Isaiah, John the Baptist’s message was one of repentance and conversion, a fitting Advent theme. Continue reading →

A Final Thought

Posted on December 2, 2023 by Friar Musings

This coming Sunday is the 1st Sunday of Advent in the new Liturgical Year. The biblical scholar Pheme Perkins offers us a final thought [Mark, 694-5]: Continue reading →

The Parable of the Absent Master

Posted on December 1, 2023 by Friar Musings

This coming Sunday is the 1st Sunday of Advent in the new Liturgical Year. 34 It is like a man traveling abroad. He leaves home and places his servants in charge, each with his work, and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch. 35 Watch, therefore; you do not know when the lord of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning. 36 May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’” Continue reading →

But of that day or hour…

Posted on November 29, 2023 by Friar Musings

This coming Sunday is the 1st Sunday of Advent in the new Liturgical Year. This gospel reading begins with “But of that day or hour…” clearly referencing something already mentioned. Our Sunday passage does not include the first two verses of what scholars hold should be part of the pericope (narrative) of the passage:

“30 Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 32 But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Mark 13:30–32)

Continue reading →

From Matthew to Mark

Posted on November 28, 2023 by Friar Musings

This coming Sunday is the 1st Sunday of Advent in the new Liturgical Year. In the movement from the readings at the end of Lectionary Cycle A (Matthew) to the Markan Advent readings in Cycle B, it is noteworthy that the “end time” tone of the readings continue. The final course of Matthean Sunday gospels have the themes of vigilance, preparation, and the coming judgment.

32nd Sunday: The Wise and Foolish Maidens (Mt 25:1-13)
33rd Sunday: The Parable of the Talents (25:14-30)
Christ the King: The Great Judgment (25:31-46)