On the Back Porch
Reading, pondering and studying God’s Word is sometimes best done “on the back porch.” Each week we will try to offer something for you and your “back porch time.”
13th Sunday, Year B
What We Celebrate
Last Sunday, in the 12th Sunday’s gospel, Jesus begins teaching the disciples with the first in a series of miracles that demonstrate the extraordinary character of Jesus’ power.
Calming the storm at sea (Mk 4:34-41) – Last Sunday
Casting a legion of demons from a man (Mk 5:1-20)
Raising Jairus’ daughter (Mk 5:21-24, 35-43) This Sunday
Healing the bleeding woman (Mk 5:25-34) This Sunday
In these miracles, Jesus exercises his power over nature, over the demonic army, over sickness, and over death. Another detail which connects several of the readings is the association of Jesus and uncleanliness: the possessed man from the tombs (who is probably a Gentile), the flow of blood from the woman, and being in the presence of death all pull Jesus into the category of ceremonial uncleanness – which is really a way of speaking about holiness.
There is a lot going on in this gospel. Take a moment “on the back porch” and find out more about this amazing Gospel.
Full Text of the Sunday Readings
Detailed Commentary
Image credit: The Daughter of Jairus (La fille de Zäire), 1886-1896 | James Tissot | Brooklyn Museum, | PD-US
The Book of Leviticus
You might be wondering, “why a video on perhaps the most arcane and boring book of the Bible?” Answer: because it has a lot to say about holiness and purity (which are likely not what you think they mean). Take a few minutes to delve into this two key biblical attributes.
14th Sunday, Year B
What We Celebrate
Over the last two Sundays we have heard about three of Jesus’ miracles
Calming the storm at sea (Mk 4:34-41)
Raising Jairus’ daughter (Mk 5:21-24, 35-43)
Healing the bleeding woman (Mk 5:25-34)
In these miracles, Jesus exercises his power over nature, over sickness, and over death. And then Jesus comes to his own hometown. “There Jesus was not able to perform any miracles, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.” Not exactly the reaction one would hope for? Why the resistance? Did not the wisdom and miracles speak for themselves?
There is a lot going on in this gospel. Take a moment “on the back porch” and find out more about this amazing Gospel.
Full Text of the Sunday Readings
Detailed Commentary
Image credit: Domenico Ghirlandaio | Calling the Apostles | 1481 | Sistine Chapel, Vatican | PD-US
Faithful
The gospel speaks to the faith that is asked of us who would take on the name “Christian.” What does it mean to be faithful? Perhaps we need only look to Scripture to see how an intrinsic characteristic of God is “faithfulness.” From that we can begin to understand what is being asked of us.
15th Sunday, Year B
What We Celebrate
Over the last several Sundays we have heard about various miracles JEsus has performed as part of the first phase of the Galilean ministry. In these miracles, Jesus exercises his power over nature, over sickness, and over death. And then Jesus comes to his own hometown. “There Jesus was not able to perform any miracles, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.” Not exactly the reaction one would hope for. What lies ahead?
In a way, this Sunday’s gospel is like a coach talking to the team at halftime, getting the team ready for the “2nd half.” In this case, the next phases of the Galilean mission. Jesus sends out “the twelve.” In this particular passage Mark does not refer to them as “apostles” (lit. the ones sent) but rather the “twelve.” Jesus sends them out with limited provisions or logistics support. He adds instructions as though He expects them to face resistance and failure. What reaction was Jesus hoping for>
There is a lot going on in this gospel. Take a moment “on the back porch” and find out more about this amazing Gospel.
Full Text of the Sunday Readings
Detailed Commentary
The Exhortation to the Apostles | James Tissot | ca. 1890 | Brooklyn Museum NYC | PD-US
Mission
A video from Fr. Casey Cole OFM – from his days in seminary while taking a missiology course. It is a video that makes the point that we make think about mission as a top-down endeavor by the great leaders of the early church. But take a moment, watch the video and understand how each of us have a place in the mission of evangelization.
16th Sunday, Year B
What We Celebrate
At the conclusion of their mission to the Galilean villages the disciples returned to Jesus. He had commissioned them to be his emissaries. Jesus invited them to a deserted/wilderness place to rest and enjoy the quiet. Jesus was conscious of the efforts that the apostle’s mission entailed and knew that it was important to recover their strength. However, It seems as though Jesus and the apostles have attracted a large crowd of people.
Whatever Jesus’ plan for himself and the apostles to have time apart and alone in order to rest and renew, the people have other ideas, hungering within for something more – even if they could not name the hunger. Perhaps they too needed rest.
There is a lot going on in this gospel. Take a moment “on the back porch” and find out more about this amazing Gospel.
Full Text of the Sunday Readings
Detailed Commentary
Christ preaching to the Apostles, Duccio di Buoninsegna, 1381| Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, Siena | Public Domain US
Rest | Sabbath
On page one of the Bible, God orders a beautiful world out of chaotic darkness within a sequence of six days. And on the seventh day, God rests. This introduces the major biblical theme of patterns of seven that conclude with God and humans resting together as partners. In this video, explore the theme of seventh day rest and the biblical concept of Sabbath. We also look at why Jesus adopted this idea as a major part of his own mission to bring God’s Kingdom to earth.
17th Sunday, Year B
What We Celebrate
This week and for the following three weeks the gospels are taken from “The Bread of Life Discourse” of John 6. The people are responding to the news of a prophet, a miracle worker, a great teachers, and possibly the Messiah. They have gathered in great numbers and day was getting late. What are they to do. Philip tells Jesus: “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” Indeed, for with God all things are possible. And this is just the start of the Bread of Life Discourse.
There is a lot going on in this gospel. Take a moment “on the back porch” and find out more about this amazing Gospel.
Full Text of the Sunday Readings
Detailed Commentary
James J. Tissot, ‘Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes’ (1886-94), Brooklyn Museum, NYC | PD-US
Jesus Feeds the 5000
Bishop Barron: “Friends, we come now to the marvelous Feast of Corpus Christi, of the Body and Blood of Christ. What has been on my mind a lot recently is the famous story of the feeding of the five thousand—the only miracle, with the exception of the Resurrection, recounted in all four Gospels. Jesus multiplying the loaves and fishes to the feeding of this great crowd must have made a massive impression on the first Christians. With this feast in mind, let’s look at the earliest version of this story in the Gospel of Mark, because every part of it is worthy of meditation.“
18th Sunday, Year B
What We Celebrate
This week and for the following two weeks the gospels are taken from “The Bread of Life Discourse” of John 6. The miraculous feeding of the multitudes has already occurred, Jesus had already left the scene and now the people are following – but their motivations are not clear. Jesus challenges them: “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled.” What will be their response?
There is a lot going on in this gospel. Take a moment “on the back porch” and find out more about this amazing Gospel.
Full Text of the Sunday Readings
Detailed Commentary
The Feeding of the Five Thousand by William Hole (1846-1917) | Edinburgh University Library | PD-US
The Real Presence
Bishop Barron offers a reflection on the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist based on the “Bread of Life Discourse” from John 6. The focus of the reflection begins on how Jesus’ words would have been heard by the 1st century listeners – and explains how Jesus never intended mere symbolism alone, but points to the Real Presence.