In today’s Gospel Jesus is in the Gentile territory of Tyre. He encounters a non-Jewish woman, “a Greek, a Syrophoenician woman.” She begs Jesus to heal her daughter who is possessed by a demon. Jesus first reaction is uncharacteristically off-putting: “Let the...
Today’s first reading describes the dedication of the First Temple in Jerusalem. This Temple was destroyed by the King of Babylon who also exiled the Jewish king and many of the political and religious leader to Babylon. After the return from the exile a Second...
In today’s Gospel Jesus sends out the Twelve to continue his mission. The Twelve were a select group of disciples. Jesus had previously chosen this group to preach and heal as we hear earlier in Mark’s Gospel: “Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he...
In today’s Gospel we hear how Jesus offends the people in his hometown. What offended or scandalized the people of his native place? It does not seem to be his teaching in the synagogue since we hear that “many who heard him were astonished.” They acknowledge that...
In today’s Gospel Jesus tells stories or parables. The first one is the Parable of the Sower, and the second one is the Parable of the Mustard Seed. Jesus begins by telling us that these two parables describe the Kingdom of God. Jesus has already announced this...
