This coming Sunday is the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Mark concentrates upon a single Sabbath when Jesus’ synagogue teaching provoked a reaction from the people present. The two words that describe the people’s reactions are: ekplessomai (v. 22) and thambeo (v. 27) – “astounded” and “amazed.” The first term, more literally means “be besides oneself” – or in the slang, “to be blown away!”  It comes from something that is so incomprehensible that one’s mind can’t fathom what has been experienced. These are not terms of faith. In Mark’s gospel we will come to learn that miracles never produce proper faith. Continue reading →

This coming Sunday is the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time in Lectionary Cycle B. The first major section of Mark’s Gospel extends from 1:14 to 3:6, and describes the initial phase of the Galilean ministry. Within this section the evangelist records the calling of the first disciples , Jesus’ ministry in and around Capernaum, and a series of controversies which are climaxed by the decision to seek Jesus’ death. Continue reading →