The language of God is silence. I must be silent, too, in order for my heart to hear and accept what the Lord is teaching me.
Then they came to Capernaum, and on the sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and taught. Mark 1:21
Tag Archives: Gospel of Mark
Fishing for the Lord
Commitment. Endurance. Diligence. Exertion. Risk.
Fishing is hard, humbling, day-by-day work.
Trust. Our efforts to love and serve the Lord and each other provide life-giving nourishment for our families, our communities, and our world.
As [Jesus] passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they abandoned their nets and followed him. Mark 1:16-18
A Word of Love
“Learn a lesson from the fig tree.
When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.” Mark 13:28
Love is timeless, without end, forever. Love will not pass away.
Love is the solution to the violence, hatred, greed, and contempt for human life that continue to shock our world.
Love is forgiveness. Love is humility. Love is compassion. Love is admitting when I am wrong. Love is kindness. Love is respect. Love is letting go of resentment. Love is comforting the grieving. Love is helping those who are suffering. Love is putting aside my needs for the moment and listening to you in your moment of need.
The Word is Love.
[Jesus said to his disciples:] “Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my words will not pass away.” Mark 13:31
What little I have
JESUS MAFA. The Widow’s Mite, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. [retrieved November 8, 2015].
It’s all yours and you are welcome to it.
[Jesus said,] “She, from her poverty, has contributed all she had.” Mark 12:44b
Refusing anonymity
JESUS MAFA. Jesus cures the man born blind, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. [retrieved October 25, 2015]
I have been given the grace to know Jesus by name. Let me pass on the gift by knowing you by name, by refusing anonymity to you, my brother or sister in God.
Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” Mark 10:46-47
Prayer
![Francois-Barthelemy-Marius Abel (1832-1870) Figure kneeling in prayer, 1856 Watercolor and brown ink on mediumweight off-white wove paper By Shepherd Gallery (Flickr: ABEL - Figure Kneeling in Prayer) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ABEL_-_Figure_Kneeling_in_Prayer.jpg)
Francois-Barthelemy-Marius Abel (1832-1870)
Figure kneeling in prayer, 1856
Watercolor and brown ink on medium weight off-white wove paper
By Shepherd Gallery (Flickr: ABEL – Figure Kneeling in Prayer) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
I forget prayer is a time of self-emptying, of surrendering myself to God.
Today I will pray to be blessed with the knowledge of God’s will for me and the grace to carry it out.
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” Mark 10:35
Not quite there
James Tissot (1836-1902)
Le jeune homme riche s’en alla triste
opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper, between 1886 and 1894
Brooklyn Museum
I enjoy my comforts. A warm home. Running water. Books. An Internet connection. A telephone – two, in fact. A car to drive. Wool sweaters. Plenty and a variety of food to eat.
I’m not quite ready to sell what I have and give to the poor.
But I can share. I can bring goods to the food pantry each week. I can clean out my closet and clear my shelves of items I don’t need and give them to an organization that will use them to help the poor. I can designate some of my monthly income for charitable donations.
Small steps on the way to follow Jesus.
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” Mark 10:21
Like a child
Lucas Cranach the Elder, 1472-1553
Christ Blessing the Children
oil on panel, 1537
Kraków, Wawel Castle
Today I will let the child in me accept God’s kingdom of peace, love, compassion, and comfort with wonder, delight, joy, and awe.
And with the knowing that I am blessed and welcome.
[Jesus said to them,] “Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” Then he embraced [the children] and blessed them, placing his hands on them. Mark 10:15-16
For Jesus
![Tita Gori (1870-1941) Jésus-Christ entouré de disciples et d'une sainte femme Collection privée By Jean-Marc Pascolo (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tableau_de_Tita_Gori,_J%C3%A9sus-Christ_entour%C3%A9_de_disciples_et_d'une_sainte_femme.jpg)
Tita Gori (1870-1941)
Jésus-Christ entouré de disciples et d’une sainte femme
Collection privée
By Jean-Marc Pascolo (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Jesus is the unifying force of all those who believe in the holy power of his name.
[Jesus replied,] “There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me.”
In the arms of God
James Tissot (1836-1902)
Jésus et le petit enfant
opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper, between 1886 and 1894
Brooklyn Museum
Imagine the arms of Jesus around me.
Respectful. Comforting. Loving. Gentle. Protective. Reassuring. Encouraging. Peace-giving.
Am I willing to receive each of God’s children in the name of Jesus with respect, comfort, gentleness, protection, reassurance, encouragement, and peace?
Taking a child, [Jesus] placed it in the their midst, and putting his arms around it, he said to them, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.” Mark 9:36-37
Mary Ann McSweeny 