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.”
10th Sunday, Year B
What We Celebrate
The 10th Sunday of Ordinary Time is not a Sunday that is always celebrated as it depends upon the Easter Season for the year. But it is a pivotal moment in Mark’s telling of the story of Jesus who is at the beginning of his public ministry in Galilee. He has already healed paralytics, people with serious illnesses, and has cast out demons from people. His reputation spreads far and wide. People come for healing or just to see if “he might be the One.” Scribes come from Jerusalem to determine if he is a sorcerer and in league with the prince of demons. And his family is concerned about Jesus and think he in “out of his mind.“
How will Jesus respond? And his response includes a reference to the “unforgiveable sin.”
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
“Mocking of Christ” by Ciambue | 1280 |Louvre, Paris | PD-US
An Everlasting Sin
“Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin.”
If there was ever a passage in Scripture that worries people, the verse above from Mark 3:28-29, certainly makes the list. At one time or another, most priests have been asked about the meaning of these verses. Is it a question of curiosity? Is a question of concern? Most often it is the latter.
The Detailed Commentary addressed this question, but also, more colloguially, Fr. Brad shares his thoughts and the teaching of the Catholic Church in the video below. Enjoy!
Despair
The devil is a common character in a lot of movies and television shows, but do any really capture who he is and what he does? Fr. Casay believe one show does… and it should terrify us. Fr. Casey also connects this to the unforgiveable sin and the life of hope in Christ.