Reflections for Ordinary Time

OK, we have to talk about sin. Given today’s readings it seems we don’t have much choice. These readings all start in different places but end up with sin: Peter speaking to the Jews who had witnessed Jesus’ death says: “Repent, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away” Luke has Jesus say […]

As we know, John’s gospel is by far the longest, including lengthy theological passages included in the account of The Last Supper. But after the resurrection it’s as if he can’t wait to get finished. There are only two chapters and one of those seems to have been added as a postscript. There is no

The story we hear today of Jesus curing the leper shows both his power, but also his limitations. His power because he can cure one of the most feared diseases in the ancient world. But his limitation because despite his strict warning to the cured man not to publicize what has happened, the man does

Most of us live most of our lives between the two extremes illustrated in our readings today. On the one hand we have Job in the depths of despair, a state that looks much like major depression to our eyes, a demon in both ancient and modern thought. On the other we have the disciples

Our readings this week continue with Mark describing the early impact of Jesus as people started to see his power and authority. This is who we chose to follow. However we also know that the choice to follow doesn’t provide immediate answers to all the questions we face in life. So we also hear Paul

Jonah must be one of the best known characters in the Bible, up there with Noah and his ark, recognized by pretty much everyone regardless of their religious background or lack of it. I think we have to admit that Jonah’s fame is more due to the whale than anything he himself brought to the

We start the journey with Jesus which leads from his baptism in the wilds of the Jordan Valley to Jerusalem and his death and everything that follows from that. We hear how he started by gathering a small group of followers. Our attention is pointed towards the call to listen to God, not just in

So this week we have the parable of the talents, familiar territory, and one of those cringeworthy passages about the perfect wife, dripping in patriarchal condescension. So maybe best to just move on quickly and hope for better pickings next week? You probably won’t be surprised to hear me say – well maybe, but maybe

The early church expected that Jesus would return pretty soon, if not next week then next month or certainly next year. The sense of excitement and urgency in the period immediately following Jesus’ death and resurrection is hardly surprising, but we see even during Paul’s lifetime a major shift in these expectations. At the time

This week the Pharisees continue their attempts to trip up Jesus. We’ve skipped his debate with the Sadducees about life after death, and now we hear a different line of attack from the political trap over paying taxes to the Romans. Or perhaps it really isn’t an attack – in Mark’s version of this story