Faith like a child Humility and service as the path to "greatness" Today we hear James warn against selfish ambition, while the disciples quarrel over which one of them is the greatest. Jesus tells them the way to be great is to serve. Then, to...

Take up your cross to follow Jesus Suffering to provide lifeThree weeks ago we heard Peter’s confession of faith as told in John’s gospel. This week we hear Mark’s version, when Peter says, “You are the Messiah.” In John, the stumbling block is...

Expanding the kingdom of God to each of us  God shows no partiality James tells us to stop showing favoritism in the assembly, treating the rich visitor with more honor than the poor one. Jesus himself seems to show partiality in his first response...

Create in me a clean heart, O God Following the loving essence of God's lawJesus protests against human customs being given the weight of divine law, while the essence of God’s law is ignored. True uncleanness comes not from external things, but...

Prepare - Put on the armour of God and take in Words of Life Strong and always faithful In today’s gospel many people take offense at Jesus’ invitation to eat his flesh and drink his blood; even many of Jesus’ disciples peel off. This is the...

Mary, Mother of Our Lord Strong and always faithfulMary’s role is not limited to giving birth to Jesus and mothering him in his childhood. In John’s gospel, she is among the women standing near the cross; in Acts, she is among the disciples...

Jesus as the Bread of Life 11th Sunday of Pentecost Jesus says that the bread he gives for the life of the world is his flesh, and whoever eats this bread has eternal life now and will be raised on the last day. In Ephesians Paul tells us what this...

Jesus as the Bread of Life 10th Sunday of Pentecost Apparently not satisfied by Jesus’ feeding of thousands, some who were there press him for a sign of his power; perhaps it is daily manna they want. As always in John’s gospel when people want a...

Jesus as the Bread of Life 9th Sunday of Pentecost Today is the first of five Sundays with gospel readings from John 6, the first four of which focus on Jesus as bread of life. Today Jesus feeds thousands of people with five loaves and two fish....

Jesus sends his disciples out to teach and heal  8th Sunday of Pentecost Mark’s gospel makes clear how great is the press of the crowd, with its countless needs to be met, on Jesus and his disciples. Yet in today’s gospel Jesus advises his...