Jesus redefines greatness in His second prediction of the Passion. After His transfiguration, He pulls the Twelve aside to teach them an unexpected truth—true greatness comes through humility and the cross. Diving deep into our Gospel, we’ll explore the loaded Greek word "paradidomi," which reveals Jesus' active rather than passive choice to give Himself up. We’ll take a closer look at the first century background and symbolism of Our Lord’s gentle gesture towards children and we’ll uncover the dual meaning of one Aramaic word that reinforces our Gospel message.

Set against the historical backdrop of Caesarea Philippi, a location steeped in ancient ties to the Greek god Pan, our Gospel is grounded in real-world settings. In addition to the geography, we’ll examine the pivotal interaction between Jesus and Peter, a moment that transitions the Gospel of Mark from revealing Jesus's identity to uncovering his salvific destiny. Finally, examination of a single Greek word will reveal the unavoidable necessity of God's plan while offering solace that, even in suffering, God's purpose will prevail.

Having cleansed foods and thereby abolished many of the ritual purity laws that served to separate Jew and Gentile, Jesus intentionally travels into Gentile territory. He performs several miracles like the one recounted in our Gospel. Exploring the healing of the deaf man we discover an explicit link with the prophecies of Isaiah that allude to an ingathering of the Gentiles and mincing Jesus' words and actions we uncover both Sacramental and New Creation themes, themes that point back to the beginning of Genesis and that help us to recognize the many graces God showers upon us even now!

We head back into Mark in our Gospel today and into the thick of Pharisaic criticism. Jesus is asked why his disciples do not wash their hands before eating. To fully understand the Pharisees' charge we take a step back and explore the heart and history of the Pharisaic school of thought. What we find in the Pharisees are Jews zealous for the law of God but fixated on ancillary things, things that inevitably distort their judgment, corrupt their heart, and prevent them from seeing that which they've longed for most: the Messiah who's standing right in front of them.

Provided with two sets of first readings, the Church beckons us to look both backward and forward to understand our Gospel and the feast of the Assumption at hand. Diving into Luke as well as our Old Testament first reading we see the evangelist draw clear parallels between David's reception of the Ark of the Covenant at Jerusalem and Elizabeth's reception of the new Ark just outside Jerusalem. Then looking forward to our reading from Revelation we realize that just as Mary went up to Jerusalem at the visitation God brings her up to the new Jerusalem once and for all at her glorious assumption.

Further exploring our multi-week look at John 6, this week's episode is a recording of the talk that Katie gave onsite at the Church of the Multiplication on the shore of the Sea of Galilee during her pilgrimage to the Holy Land in January 2023. Enjoy!

Over the next several weeks the Church breaks from Mark’s Gospel, pivoting instead to John 6. Encountering the people’s hunger, Our Lord feeds them with the miraculous multiplication of loaves and fish. The Scriptures then recount a fascinating response to the miracle: the people want to make Jesus king. Delving into the history of the Old Testament manna as well as the Jewish tradition surrounding it, we explore an explanation for the people’s desire to place Our Lord upon the throne, one in which the multiplied bread is seen as none other than new manna!

The Twelve return from their initial missionary outreach, their success evidenced by the continually growing crowds. Unable to find time even to eat, Jesus invites the disciples to follow him to a place of solitude. The people, however, are undeterred and follow on foot, beating Jesus to his destination. What Our Lord does next shows the tenderness of his heart. Moved with compassion he provides for their needs and in so doing he continues echoing a new Exodus theme while taking upon himself the role of a new Moses and a new Joshua.

Jesus called the Twelve to himself in the beginning of Mark's Gospel. Now he sends them out two-by-two to do the very works that he has done. Exploring Our Lord's pre-departure instructions we discover several connections to not only the Old Testament but also first century culture. Through these connections we see Jesus distinguishing his followers from some (like itinerant Greek philosophers) but also associating them with others (like the Old Testament people of God). Through our Gospel we'll discover the Twelve acting in the person of Christ and in so doing inaugurating the New Exodus.

Jesus travels home to Nazareth in our Gospel today but the reception he receives is far from warm. Comparing and contrasting our episode with an earlier synagogue encounter in Capernaum we realize that those who reject God often have the same evidence for belief as those who accept him. At the end of the day we have to decide - with the same evidence that the people of Israel had - is this man who he says he is?