Mark

Sunday Reflection – Advent I, December 3, 2023

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Staying alert for the coming of the Son of Man

Mark 13 24  In those days, right after this time of suffering,

“The sun will become dark,
and the moon
    will no longer shine.
25 The stars will fall,
and the powers in the sky
    will be shaken.”

26  Then the Son of Man will be seen coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 He will send his angels to gather his chosen ones from all over the earth.

28 Learn a lesson from a fig tree. When its branches sprout and start putting out leaves, you know summer is near. 29 So when you see all these things happening, you will know that the time has almost come. 30 You can be sure that some of the people of this generation will still be alive when all this happens. 31 The sky and the earth will not last forever, but my words will.

32  No one knows the day or the time. The angels in heaven don’t know, and the Son himself doesn’t know. Only the Father knows. 33 So watch out and be ready! You don’t know when the time will come. 34  It is like what happens when a man goes away for a while and places his servants in charge of everything. He tells each of them what to do, and he orders the guard to keep alert. 35 So be alert! You don’t know when the master of the house will come back. It could be in the evening or at midnight or before dawn or in the morning. 36 But if he comes suddenly, don’t let him find you asleep. 37 I tell everyone just what I have told you. Be alert!

Kids Korner: Preparing ourselves (Dec. 3rd)

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Read Mark 13:24-37 with your family.

We have started a new Christian year, and this year we are learning about Jesus from the Gospel of Mark.

There is a pattern to Advent readings: Week 1 we talk about getting ready for Jesus’ coming, Week 2 & 3 we talk about John the Baptist and his ministry, and Week 4 we talk about either Mary or Joseph.

The getting ready passages talk about hope for the future and what we can change. They also talk about how we can help make God’s promise of love and peace a reality for everyone.

As you begin this new year, what are some of your ideas to make the world a better place?

Sunday Reflection – November 14, 2021

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Keep watch

Mark 13 As Jesus left the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look! What awesome stones and buildings!”

2 Jesus responded, “Do you see these enormous buildings? Not even one stone will be left upon another. All will be demolished.”

3 Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives across from the temple. Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things happen? What sign will show that all these things are about to come to an end?”

5 Jesus said, “Watch out that no one deceives you. 6 Many people will come in my name, saying, ‘I’m the one!’ They will deceive many people. 7 When you hear of wars and reports of wars, don’t be alarmed. These things must happen, but this isn’t the end yet. 8 Nations and kingdoms will fight against each other, and there will be earthquakes and famines in all sorts of places. These things are just the beginning of the birth pangs associated with the end.

Performed by Margaret Whisselle

Kids Korner: Don’t listen to the people who claim to be Christ (November 14th)

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Read Mark 13:1-8 with your family. This story happens after Jesus and four of his closest friends walk to the hills outside of Jerusalem.

This is a message of hope. Don’t be upset with all the bad things happening in the world, they are not signs of anything. God doesn’t do that, and no one is given a special message about what God is doing. Jesus taught us everything we needed to know about God, so don’t believe anyone who says they know more or better about what God wants for the world. Sad things are going to happen, but God is not responsible for those sad things. God wants us to help make things better, not fear what we don’t know.

Sunday Reflection – November 7, 2021

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Beware of the scribes

Mark 12 38 As he was teaching, he said, “Watch out for the legal experts. They like to walk around in long robes. They want to be greeted with honor in the markets. 39 They long for places of honor in the synagogues and at banquets. 40 They are the ones who cheat widows out of their homes, and to show off they say long prayers. They will be judged most harshly.”

A poor widow’s contribution

41 Jesus sat across from the collection box for the temple treasury and observed how the crowd gave their money. Many rich people were throwing in lots of money. 42 One poor widow came forward and put in two small copper coins worth a penny. 43 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I assure you that this poor widow has put in more than everyone who’s been putting money in the treasury. 44 All of them are giving out of their spare change. But she from her hopeless poverty has given everything she had, even what she needed to live on.”

Performed by Margaret Whisselle

Kids Korner: Beware of the scribes/the Widow’s Mite (November 7th)

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Read Mark 12:38-44 with your family. This story happens after Jesus is finished teaching in the temple in Jerusalem, and he is just sitting there with his friends.

Why would someone put everything they had in the temple collection box? That is an important question. Maybe they had complete faith that someone at the temple would take care of them now. Maybe they were convinced to do it by people at the temple that were not looking out for her best interests? We will never know the answer to this question.

The church has often told this story admiring the widow for her generosity while looking down at the scribes for giving only their extra money not all they had. However, only once does Jesus tell someone to give away all their money – and that is a wealthy young man who wants to do an action to get into God’s world without changing his attitude or trusting in the new vision (Mark 10:21). Jesus never told anyone to give away all their money when they didn’t have much to begin with. We are always to give from our abundance, and then a little bit more.

Sunday Reflection – October 31, 2021

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The Greatest commandment

Mark 12 28 One of the legal experts heard their dispute and saw how well Jesus answered them. He came over and asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”

29 Jesus replied, “The most important one is Israel, listen! Our God is the one Lord, 30 and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your mind, and with all your strength. 31 The second is this, You will love your neighbour as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these.”

32 The legal expert said to him, “Well said, Teacher. You have truthfully said that God is one and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love God with all of the heart, a full understanding, and all of one’s strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself is much more important than all kinds of entirely burned offerings and sacrifices.”

34 When Jesus saw that he had answered with wisdom, he said to him, “You aren’t far from God’s kingdom.” After that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Performed by Margaret Whisselle

Kids Korner: The greatest commandments (October 31st)

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Read Mark 12:28-34 with your family. This story happens after Jesus has entered Jerusalem and everyone celebrated his arrival.

In this passage Jesus is quoting the Hebrew Scriptures:

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 says “Israel, listen! Our God is the Lord! Only the Lord! Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your being, and all your strength.”

Leviticus 19:18 says: “You must not take revenge nor hold a grudge against any of your people; instead, you must love your neighbour as yourself; I am the Lord.”

Jesus was able to prove to the scribes that he knew scripture and was not teaching anything against the teachings of God.

Sunday Reflection – October 24, 2021

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healing of blind bartimaeus

46 Jesus and his followers came into Jericho. As Jesus was leaving Jericho, together with his disciples and a sizable crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, Timaeus’ son, was sitting beside the road. 47 When he heard that Jesus of Nazareth was there, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, show me mercy!” 48 Many scolded him, telling him to be quiet, but he shouted even louder, “Son of David, show me mercy!”

49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him forward.”

They called the blind man, “Be encouraged! Get up! He’s calling you.”

50 Throwing his coat to the side, he jumped up and came to Jesus.

51 Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”

The blind man said, “Teacher, I want to see.”

52 Jesus said, “Go, your faith has healed you.” At once he was able to see, and he began to follow Jesus on the way.

Performed by Margaret Whisselle

Kids Korner: Bartimaeus sees again (October 24th)

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Read Mark 10:46-52 with your family. This is the last story in Mark before Jesus heads for Jerusalem, where he will meet people shouting Hosanna!

The really interesting thing about this story is that Bartimaeus is the first person to call Jesus “Son of David”, and Jesus doesn’t tell him to be quiet. Earlier in the Gospel of Mark, whenever Jesus would be called something special, Jesus would always tell them to be quiet. However, Jesus does not tell Bartimaeus to be quiet. That is probably because this is what Jesus’ ministry has been heading towards, with all the healings and teachings and predictions of his death. If you continue to read the story in Mark, you will read about the cross and the Resurrection, all of which will happen within eight days of this meeting with Bartimaeus.

So who is the Son of David? Many of the Hebrew people believe that a person would come along to free them from the Romans, the Messiah. Some thought that person would be a warrior. Some thought there would be more than one person. But everyone who believed in the Messiah believed he would restore the kingdom of David and the Hebrews would be free to run their own country and government. As we know, Jesus had a very different way of being the Messiah.