We see from Mark's Gospel that even Jesus found it difficult to get away from all the demands on His time. There seemed to be no end to the crowds of people needing healing, and to hear the Good News of His message. His compassion was so great that he would not turn them away, even to rest. There is a rhythm to life, to work and rest and prayer, and we need to find the rhythm to spend the time with God. We cannot do God's work unless we seek the quietness and aloneness with God.

The Scripture references are Jeremiah 23:1-6, Psalm 23, and Ephesians 2:11-22. The Gospel reference is Mark 6:30-34,53-56.

In Amos we see God's anger at the people of Israel who are misusing the gifts He has given them, and are mistreating one another. God sent Amos to bring them back to God; He loves us too much to leave us to our own devices, also. He has set us a plumb line in Jesus Christ, and by measuring ourselves against that plumb line we will not choose the easy ways and those that oppose God's will for us. It will give us the strength and faith to do the right thing, not the easy thing, and to rise to what God's love is challenging us to do today.

The Scripture references are Amos 7:7-15, Psalm 85:8-13, and Ephesians 1:3-14. The Gospel reference is Mark 6:14-29.

When Jesus sent the Disciples out with only the most basic items, He knew that the things we carry with us impact our spiritual lives and our ability to minister. What we carry with us every day, our mental, emotional and material "overpacking", is what can keep us from living a life close to God and to each other. The way of simplicity is the way of freedom, and Jesus calls us to that life. Let's heed His advice and choose carefully what we carry with us.

The Scripture references are Ezekiel 2:1-5, Psalm 123, and 2 Corinthians 12:2-10. The Gospel reference is Mark 6:1-13.

In today's Gospel both the woman in the crowd and Jairus, the leader of the synagogue, desire healing from Jesus. What they also suffer from is the isolation that often accompanies illness of any kind, be it physical or mental. Both find themselves healed of the physical ailments that troubled them, but more importantly they are restored to community and are no longer isolated and alone. We have a wonderful healer in Jesus, and just as the woman and Jairus reached out to Him we need to remember to reach out to God in faith.

The Scripture references are Wisdom of Solomon 1:13-15, 2:23-24, Psalm130, and 2 Corinthians 8:7-15. The Gospel reference is Mark 5:21-43.

We have more in common with the followers of the early church than we might suppose. They too were faced with accepting new followers from the Gentile world, people with different languages, customs, races, and understandings of the world. It can be unsettling, and we may find our faith tested in ways we could not suppose. But as the Disciples found on the Sea of Galilee, in the middle of the storm Jesus is still with us. He never promises to fix our world, but he does promise to give us the strength and faith to cross safely over to the other side.

The Scripture references are Job 38:1-11, Psalm 107:1-3,23-22, and 2 Corinthians 6:1-13. The Gospel reference is Mark 4:35-41.

We have more in common with the followers of the early church than we might suppose. They too were faced with accepting new followers from the Gentile world, people with different languages, customs, races, and understandings of the world. It can be unsettling, and we may find our faith tested in ways we could not suppose. But as the Disciples found on the Sea of Galilee, in the middle of the storm Jesus is still with us. He never promises to fix our world, but he does promise to give us the strength and faith to cross safely over to the other side.

The Scripture references are Job 38:1-11, Psalm 107:1-3,23-22, and 2 Corinthians 6:1-13. The Gospel reference is Mark 4:35-41.

The parable of the mustard seed reminds us to have the patience to wait on God's plan to come to fruition. From the small beginnings in the Galilee it has spread throughout the world to find a home in the hearts of people the whole world over. As Julian of Norwich said, "All will be well."

The Scripture references are Ezekiel 17:22-24, Psalm 92:1-4, 11-14, and 2 Corinthians 5:6-10,14-17. The Gospel reference is Mark 4:26-34.

As people of faith we are called to look beyond our flesh and blood, and beyond social norms to see that we are all brought into being by God and that through God we are all related. It is how we look at the things that we all share as human beings, the hopes and desires and wishing for a good and happy life, as things that all of us aspire to. We must not look at the human family as "us versus them", but rather that we are all children of God. Spiritual gifts are not like material goods; when we share those gifts they grow and do not diminish.

The Scripture references are Genesis 3:8-15, Psalm 138, and 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1. The Gospel reference is Mark 3:20-35.

The over-arching thread of Jesus' ministry that we see in the Gospels is His sense of immediacy. Refusing to be bound by the opinions and rules of the Pharisees, He preaches and heals and shares the resurrection life that he lives with everyone he meets. His rules are those that bring us to His Father, and God is at work everywhere and at every moment.

The Scripture references are 1 Samuel 3:1-10, Psalm 139:1-5,12-17, and 2 Corinthians 4:5-12. The Gospel reference is Mark 2:23-3:6.

The over-arching thread of Jesus' ministry that we see in the Gospels is His sense of immediacy. Refusing to be bound by the opinions and rules of the Pharisees, He preaches and heals and shares the resurrection life that he lives with everyone he meets. His rules are those that bring us to His Father, and God is at work everywhere and at every moment.

The Scripture references are 1 Samuel 3:1-10, Psalm 139:1-5,12-17, and 2 Corinthians 4:5-12. The Gospel reference is Mark 2:23-3:6.