Tag Archives: Mark 9

This Kind

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The opening of the gospel reading is not a direct quote from Scripture, but as often happens for liturgical readings, the opening verse is modified to give context and continuity with the Gospel text itself. In Scripture the context is that Jesus and three disciples (Peter, James, and John) are descending from the mountain top and the event known as the Transfiguration of the Lord. The quote from Mark 9:14 is “When they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them.” It loses the location and leaves “they” undefined. For the gospel proclaimed they borrow from previous verses in Mark 9 to provide us with: “As Jesus came down from the mountain with Peter, James, John and approached the other disciples they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them.” (Liturgical reading)  

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A Final Thought: accepting others

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This coming Sunday is the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time. “Greatness in the kingdom” is an odd expression given we are to walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8) but then that is rather Jesus’ point in this Sunday’s gospel. We are all able to cite: “the first shall be last and the last shall be first,” but none of us really wants to be at the end of the line. One only needs to think of the boarding process for any airline. Before the “boarding group” numbers are called people are already crowding closer to the gate. A few years ago on a flight from DC to San Diego, when the attendant called for anyone who needed a “little extra time in boarding”, a very elegant, tanned, fit and handsome couple presented themselves offering that they were “retired.” They seemed a bit oblivious to nearby people in wheelchairs, on walkers, and a mom traveling with two small children and twin infants. Part of accepting others is to first notice them. Continue reading →

Some Interesting Notes

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The end of the Sunday gospel reading makes several references to Gehenna beginning in v.43. Gehenna is derived from the Hebrew ge-hinnom = “Valley of Hinnom”. In that place some of the less-than-holy kings of Judah engaged in forbidden religious practices, including human sacrifice by fire (2 Chron. 28:3; 33:6; Jer. 7:31; 32:35). Jeremiah spoke of its judgment and destruction (Jer. 7:32; 19:6). King Josiah put an end to these practices by destroying and defiling the high place of the valley of Hinnom (2 Kings 23:10). Probably because of these associations with fiery destruction and judgment, the word “Gehenna” came to be used metaphorically during the intertestamental period as a designation for hell or eternal damnation. Perhaps more than a place (the place of the dead is usually called “Hades” in the NT); it represents a state of judgment and punishment. Continue reading →

Causes of Sin

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This coming Sunday is the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time. In seminary exegesis courses one is taught to look for details that indicate a change of scene, location, or other markers to indicate the boundaries of a particular pericope (a technical word used in exegesis meaning “narrative” – and a word that auto-correction keeps wanting to change to “periscope,” which given my history serving on nuclear submarines is kinda’ interesting.). There are no such markers in the text. It is a safe bet to assume Jesus is still in Capernaum, surrounded by the Twelve, with a child in their midst (9:33-37). The expression “little ones” may well also include those given a cup of water because they bear the name of Jesus (v.41). Continue reading →

Outsiders

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This coming Sunday is the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time. In the last few posts we have discussed some background to the reading, now we enter the reading itself.

38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” 39 Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. 40 For whoever is not against us is for us. 41 Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward. 

One should not miss the irony in this passage. The disciples were attempting to prevent another from doing what they had just failed to do: “I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so.” (9:18). Continue reading →

In My Name

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This coming Sunday is the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time. The expression “in my name” in the New Testament carries significant theological weight, often indicating the authority, power, or presence of Jesus in various contexts.

  • Prayer and Petition: Jesus instructs His disciples to pray “in my name,” signifying that their requests are made with His authority and in alignment with His will (e.g., John 14:13-14). Prayers made in Jesus’ name are understood to be powerful and effective because they invoke His authority and character.

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Speaking on behalf of God

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This coming Sunday is the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, One key phrase that has importance for this Sunday’s gospel is: “in my name.” It doesn’t take much to assert that “the Word of God came to me…” It was a problem in the Old Testament where several individuals claimed to be prophets or were regarded as prophets by others, but they were not truly commissioned by God. These false prophets often spoke messages that were contrary to God’s will or led people astray. Here are a few examples: Continue reading →

Least and Greatest in the Kingdom

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This coming Sunday is the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, lectionary cycle B. As noted regarding the gospel last Sunday, the time of miracles, healings, and casting out demons seems to have passed. Moving forward, Mark’s gospel continues to primarily focus on the teaching and preparation of the disciples for the coming times when they will be without Jesus in his familiar presence. In our passage it seems clear that Jesus is pointing out some of the problems that the apostolic community will face – and many of them can be understood as problems of the human condition. The concerns of this passage are: (1) ambition among themselves (vv. 33–37); (2) envy and intolerance of others (vv. 38–41); and (3) scandalizing others (vv. 42–48). Continue reading →

Somewhere along the way

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Somewhere along the way of life, we adults lost a thing or two. Perhaps, it is part of maturation. But then again, maybe we simply lost something valuable. For the second time Jesus has announced to the disciples that he will suffer, die, and rise again after three days. What follows is either a remarkable calm, a stunned silence, an amazing lack of curiosity, a moment of “what did he just say” as a cover for lack of understanding, or maybe it is just fear.  I always wonder that if a child had been there, curiosity would have piqued their interest, especially that whole “rise again after three days.” I easily imagine a child saying, “You’re gonna’ rise from the dead? Cool! How’s that?” Continue reading →

Seeing with the eyes of God

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This coming Sunday is the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time. If the first teaching was troublesome, the next would have been downright shocking. In our time we have a different view of children. We hold children to be innocent and precious. This does not seem to have been the view of the 1st century. In ancient culture, children had no status. They were subject to the authority of their fathers, viewed as little more than property. In Roman culture adults were adopted, not children. Consider St. Paul’s statement: “I mean that as long as the heir is not of age, he is no different from a slave, although he is the owner of everything, but he is under the supervision of guardians and administrators until the date set by his father.” (Gal 4:1-2) Continue reading →