The Passion of Jesus Christ as told in Mark 14:1-15:47.

Full Immersion

John 12:20-33

Fr. Mark uses a humorous story about a woman trying to avoid full immersion baptism to illustrate how we often try to protect our vulnerable inner selves by staying on the surface of life, preoccupied with the external world. He says we need to die to our false surface self in order to find our true self in God.

Jesus himself felt the human fear of losing his individual self, but knew that fruitful, abundant life is found in union with God and others, not in individualism. His death and resurrection shows that dying to self leads to new life, just as a seed must die to produce a harvest. This applies not just to individuals but to communities and the church - we must die to our own needs and agendas to truly serve others.

Ultimately, we need to shed the "flotation devices" that keep us on the surface and let the waters of baptism do their transformative work in us. This means dying to our disconnection, tribalism and obsession with externals in order to build a new, connected world in Christ.

Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Love or Judgment?

John 3:14-21

Father Mark’s sermon revolves around interpreting the famous biblical verse, John 3:16, which states, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life." Father Mark discusses how this verse can be interpreted as either comforting or terrifying, depending on one's perspective. He highlights the contrast between viewing God as a loving, merciful being or as a demanding, uncompromising judge.

Father Mark emphasizes that interpreting the Bible involves drawing upon tradition, reason, experience, and other biblical passages. He suggests that the word "believe" in John 3:16 could be better translated as "trust," shifting the focus from holding specific beliefs to surrendering to the Spirit of Christ. He draws parallels with parables of the lost sheep, coin, and son, illustrating God's unconditional love and desire to seek out and rejoice over those who are lost.

The sermon invites the congregation to interpret John 3:16 as a message of God's love and healing rather than condemnation. Father Mark proposes understanding the word "saved" in verse 17 as being healed from various societal ills, aligning with God's desire to restore wholeness and union with the divine. He encourages interpreting the Bible through the lens of a merciful, forgiving, and infinitely loving God.

Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Beyond the Marketplace

John 2:13-22

Father Mark's sermon focuses on the story of Jesus cleansing the temple. He argues that the act was driven by Jesus' frustration with the temple becoming a marketplace.

Traditionally, people brought animals for sacrifice, but the temple merchants inflated prices and prioritized profit over worship. This commercialization contrasted with God's free flow of grace and love.

The sermon highlights the dangers of a "marketplace mentality" even in our spiritual lives. We easily fall into thinking of God as someone we make deals with, expecting something in return for our actions. However, true faith involves accepting God's gifts freely, without needing to earn them.

Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Facing Ourselves

Mark 1:9-15

This sermon by Father Mark delves into the themes of self-examination and living a life centered on divine things, drawing on the Gospel of Mark and Sister Joan Chittister's book "Falling Upward." Father Mark emphasizes the importance of introspection and confronting our inner selves, challenging the tendency to blame others and avoid responsibility. He argues that true freedom lies in letting go of selfish desires and attachments, aligning our lives with Christ's teachings, and embracing the challenges that come with following His path.

Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Fast and Feast

Mark 1:9-15

Father Mark's sermon explores the concept of the wilderness as a place of testing and transformation, drawing parallels between the experiences of Jesus and those of the congregation during Lent. He emphasizes the presence of two opposing forces in our lives: the "divisive, oppositional, satanic spirit" that separates us from God and others, and the "life-giving, loving, compassionate spirit of Jesus."

The sermon encourages self-reflection during Lent, urging congregants to examine the motivations behind their thoughts, words, and actions. Father Mark highlights the subtle nature of negative energy, which can often masquerade as righteousness or even friendship. He emphasizes the importance of discerning this energy and choosing instead the loving spirit of Christ.

The sermon concludes with a call to action, urging listeners to "fast from the life-depleting energies and feast on the life-giving energies." Father Mark expresses hope that the congregation will learn to trust the energy of God's love during their Lenten journey.

Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Transfiguration

Mark 9:2-9

Christianity teaches that Christ can be born a thousand times in Bethlehem, but all are in vain until he is born in each individual. The meaning of the transfiguration is not just that Jesus was transfigured 2,000 years ago, but that we are called to say yes to our own transfiguration and metamorphosis into something greater than ourselves.

As we enter Lent, it is a time for us to courageously seek to become truer versions of ourselves, allowing ourselves to be transformed by the Holy Spirit and to see life from a different, larger, higher perspective through the eyes of Christ who dwells within us.

Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Weak and Strong

Mark 1:29-39

Father Mark's sermon delves into the narrative of Jesus' healing and exorcism activities in Capernaum, as described in the Gospel according to Mark, highlighting Jesus' deliberate choice to maintain the Messianic secret. He interprets Jesus' refusal to allow demons to reveal his identity as a strategic measure to prevent misconceptions about his messiahship, particularly against the backdrop of contemporary Jewish expectations of a military liberator.

Father Mark elaborates on the "Messianic secret" theme, suggesting Jesus aimed to redefine messianic expectations, focusing on servitude and spiritual liberation rather than political dominance. This redefinition is contrasted with prevailing cultural norms that valorize power and retaliation over forgiveness and servitude.

The sermon emphasizes the transformative power of Jesus' message and actions, encouraging a reevaluation of personal and communal values in light of the Gospel's teachings. It calls for a radical shift from cultural conformity to Gospel-formed lives, challenging listeners to embrace servanthood, forgiveness, and a reoriented understanding of strength as envisioned by Jesus.

Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Root of Authority

Mark 1:21-28

Father Mark's sermon focuses on the unique authority of Jesus as depicted in the Gospel story, where Jesus teaches and performs an exorcism in a synagogue. He contrasts Jesus' innate authority with the external, institutional authority of the scribes.

The people in the synagogue recognized Jesus' authority as emanating from his essence and connection with God, rather than from any official position.

Father Mark also explores how Christian authority has evolved, discussing the shift from institutional authority to scriptural authority during the Protestant Reformation. He introduces a balanced approach to understanding scripture, incorporating Scripture, Tradition, Reason, and Experience.

The sermon encourages embracing these diverse sources to grow in wisdom and deepen one's spiritual understanding.

Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Beyond Nets and Boats

Mark 1:14-20

In his sermon, Father Mark explores the Gospel of Mark, specifically the story of Jesus calling Simon, Andrew, James, and John to follow him. He discusses three ways to interpret this story: as a historical account, a rationalized narrative, or a personal, deeper message.

Father Mark emphasizes the importance of understanding "repentance" in its original context, as a call to change one's mindset and actions. He critiques the common reluctance to change, especially in political contexts, and challenges the congregation to consider how Jesus' message applies today.

Addressing the current challenges of the Christian Church, Father Mark suggests a shift in perspective: viewing church roles not just as tasks, but as part of God's larger mission of reconciliation and love. He encourages the congregation to listen to God's call with open hearts and minds, and to engage in the church and the world with renewed energy and a sense of divine purpose.

Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.