Jonathan Chute - "Not Far From the Kingdom"

Mark 12: 28-34. This Sunday's gospel reading tells of an encounter between Jesus and another leader of the Jewish community, a scholar of the law, who asks

perhaps an obvious question, "Which is the most important commandment?" Jesus answers the question as presented, and the lawyer agrees

with Jesus about the core of Jewish teaching and life.

Jonathan Chute - "On the Way"

Mark 10: 46-52. In the last miracle of his earthly life Jesus restores the sight of a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, who, when he hears that Jesus is passing by, calls out from his place on the side of the road. Others try to silence him, but he will not keep quiet. Jesus tells Bartimaeus to go, that his faith has made him well.

Jonathan Chute - "VIP"

Mark 10: 35-45. In this week's gospel, two of the disciples, James and John, seek places of privilege in God's kingdom. When the other disciples hear about it they become angry. Jesus uses the occasion to teach them all that the path to greatness in God's kingdom is the path of service rather than self.

Earl Butler - "BFF"

Luke 11: 1-4 and Mark 11: 20-24. In our first reading this week, the disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray. He responds with a short, simple prayer, a version of which we

know as the Lord's Prayer. In our second reading, Jesus tells

his disciples that when they bring their requests before God, they should have faith and trust that God will hear them.

John Kwan - "Let No One Separate"

Mark 10: 2-16. In this week's gospel, as we follow Jesus to Jerusalem, we see

that friend and foe alike continue to separate the have's from the have not's based upon their understanding of the world. The Pharisees

continue their attempts to discredit Jesus in order to preserve the Law as they understand it. The disciples continue their attempts to control

Jesus' message - who gets to hear it and who gets to act on his behalf.

Jonathan Chute - "Outside, In"

Mark 9: 38-41. In this week's gospel the disciples report that they encountered a man who was healing others in Jesus' name – even though he wasn't one of them.

They appear to be worried that he is doing God's work without proper authorization. Jesus tells them that when people actually do good things

for God, their actions will not be forgotten.

Jonathan Chute - "The View from the Bottom"

Mark 9: 30-37. In this week's gospel we see that the disciples are still having a hard time seeing the kingdom of God as Jesus pictures it.

They are preoccupied arguing about which one of them is really the greatest. Jesus says to them that if they want to understand greatness

in God's terms, they should look to a child, small and weak, and they need look no further.

Jonathan Chute - "Prophet and Loss"

Mark 8: 27-38. In today's scripture, Jesus confirms Peter's declaration that he is the Messiah, but admonishes them

not to tell anyone else about it. Then, he shares his picture of God's kingdom and says that the only way to save our life is to lose it.

These are different words from anything the disciples have heard before.

Jonathan Chute - "Friendly?"

James 2: 1-13, Mark 7: 24-30. This week's gospel tells the story of an unusual encounter between Jesus and a Gentile woman. She comes to him seeking healing for her daughter.

Jesus speaks to her in uncharacteristicly dismissive language, but she persists, and Jesus decides to perform the healing requested.

Jonathan Chute - "From the Heart"

Mark 7: 1-8, 14-15, 21-23. When some of the Pharisees notice that Jesus' disciples are eating without washing their hands, they ask Jesus why he allows this breach of

manners. Jesus says that it's not the hands that make us unclean, but the heart.