Our Mark Project

Week of March 29

2009-03-30T12:58:00.000-07:00

Chapter of Mark to be read: Chapter 16
Read the entire third chapter of Mark at h ttp://bible.oremus.org/?passage=mark+16

After reading the chapter think about the following questions:

Who did Jesus send to you to tell you He has risen?
Where have you experienced the risen Christ?

Now that you have finished reading the Gospel of Mark, what images remain with you?

Please feel free to share your response to any of the above reflection questions by posting a comment.

Week of March 22

2009-03-21T09:05:00.000-07:00

Chapter of Mark to be read: Chapter 15
Read the entire third chapter of Mark at h ttp://bible.oremus.org/?passage=mark+15

After reading the chapter think about the following questions:

Have your actions ever been mocked because you are a disciple of Jesus?
Have you ever sat with someone who is dying? What was it like?
How do you feel when you attend funerals and burials?
What does Jesus death mean to you?

Please feel free to share your response to any of the above reflection questions by posting a comment.

Week of March 15

2009-03-15T07:57:00.000-07:00

Chapter of Mark to be read: Chapter 14
Read the entire third chapter of Mark at h ttp://bible.oremus.org/?passage=mark+14

Reflect specifically upon:
Mark 14:1-11 (NRSV)
It was two days before the Passover and the festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him; for they said, ‘Not during the festival, or there may be a riot among the people.’

While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head. But some were there who said to one another in anger, ‘Why was the ointment wasted in this way? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.’ And they scolded her. But Jesus said, ‘Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me. For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.’

Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. When they heard it, they were greatly pleased, and promised to give him money. So he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.

Think about the following questions:

Why do you think the woman spent a year’s wages on perfume?
When you spend money on another person, what concerns you?
What is the biggest problem you have in making money decisions?
If you had ten times the amount of money you now have to give away, who or what would you give that money to?

Reflect specifically upon:
Mark 14:32-42 (NRSV)
They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’ He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. And he said to them, ‘I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.’ And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. He said, ‘Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.’ He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, ‘Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour? Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.’ And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. And once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to say to him. He came a third time and said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.’

Think about the following questions:

If you knew you had only a few days to live, what would you do with the time?
With what decision are you struggling at the moment?
Who do you call on when you need help in knowing God’s will?
How do you know when you’ve identified God’s will for you?

Please feel free to share your response to any of the above reflection questions by posting a comment.

Week of March 8

2009-03-07T15:48:00.000-08:00

Chapter of Mark to be read: Chapter 13
Read the entire third chapter of Mark at http://bible.oremus.org/?passage=mark+13

After reading the chapter think about the following questions:

If you could take two things to heaven with you what would they be?
What is the most exciting thing about the Second Coming of Christ? The most distressing?
What question would you like to ask Jesus?

Please feel free to share your response to any of the above reflection questions by posting a comment.

Week of March 1

2009-02-28T17:15:00.000-08:00

Chapter of Mark to be read: Chapter 12
Read the entire third chapter of Mark at http://bible.oremus.org/?passage=mark+12

Reflect specifically upon:
Mark 12:28-34 (NRSV)
One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, ‘Which commandment is the first of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The first is, “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is this, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’ Then the scribe said to him, ‘You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that “he is one, and besides him there is no other”; and “to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength”, and “to love one’s neighbour as oneself”,—this is much more important than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.’ When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ After that no one dared to ask him any question.

Think about the following questions:

What subject is guaranteed to spark a debate in your house? Sports? Poitics? Religion? Other?
Why are these two commandments the greatest?
In the three possibilities of love relationships (with God, neighbor and self), where are you the strongest? the weakest?

Please feel free to share your response to any of the above reflection questions by posting a comment.

Week of February 22

2009-02-21T11:31:00.000-08:00

Chapter of Mark to be read: Chapter 11
Read the entire third chapter of Mark at http://bible.oremus.org/?passage=mark+11

Reflect specifically upon:
Mark 11:1-11 (NRSV)
When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, “Why are you doing this?” just say this, “The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.” ’ They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, ‘What are you doing, untying the colt?’ They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,
‘Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!’ Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

Think about the following questions:

What is the closest you have ever come to meeting a world leader or celebrity?
What do you find most significant about the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem?
How did Jesus ride into your life?

Reflect specifically upon:
Mark 11:12-19 (NRSV)
On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see whether perhaps he would find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. He said to it, ‘May no one ever eat fruit from you again.’ And his disciples heard it. Then they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold doves; and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. He was teaching and saying, ‘Is it not written,
“My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations”?
But you have made it a den of robbers.’
And when the chief priests and the scribes heard it, they kept looking for a way to kill him; for they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was spellbound by his teaching. And when evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.

Think about the following questions:

If Jesus came to clean up your town, where would he start?
How do you describe your response to injustice, abuse or moral corruption?
Where is God calling you now to get involved?

Please feel free to share your response to any of the above reflection questions by posting a comment.

Week of February 15

2009-02-14T18:13:00.000-08:00

Chapter of Mark to be read: Chapter 10
Read the entire third chapter of Mark at http://bible.oremus.org/?passage=mark+10

Reflect specifically upon:
Mark 10:1-11 (NRSV)
He left that place and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan. And crowds again gathered around him; and, as was his custom, he again taught them.

Some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?’ He answered them, ‘What did Moses command you?’ They said, ‘Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.’ But Jesus said to them, ‘Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. But from the beginning of creation, “God made them male and female.” “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.’

Then in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. He said to them, ‘Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her;

Think about the following questions:

What do you like best and least about weddings?
How were the Pharisees trying to test Jesus by their questions? How can you apply the principles of marriage underlined here?
Do you think Jesus would respond the same way to someone in a troubled marriage who is sincerely asking the question in verse 2?

Reflect specifically upon:
Mark 10:46-52 (NRSV)
They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Jesus stood still and said, ‘Call him here.’ And they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Take heart; get up, he is calling you.’ So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man said to him, ‘My teacher, let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has made you well.’ Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.

Think about the following questions:

How do you respond when a beggar approaches you on the street?
What is significant about the way Bartimaeus addresses Jesus? About the way the beggar is treated by the crowd? If Jesus asked you, "what do you want me to do for you?"

Please feel free to share your response to any of the above reflection questions by posting a comment.

Week of February 8

2009-02-01T08:08:00.000-08:00

Chapter of Mark to be read: Chapter Nine
Read the entire third chapter of Mark at http://bible.oremus.org/?passage=mark+9

Reflect specifically upon:
Mark 9:2-13 (NRSV)
‘I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way—and some of them have come from a great distance.’ His disciples replied, ‘How can one feed these people with bread here in the desert?’ He asked them, ‘How many loaves do you have?’ They said, ‘Seven.’ Then he ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground; and he took the seven loaves, and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute; and they distributed them to the crowd. They had also a few small fish; and after blessing them, he ordered that these too should be distributed. They ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. Now there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha. The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, asking him for a sign from heaven, to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, ‘Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.’ And he left them, and getting into the boat again, he went across to the other side.

Think about the following questions:

When was your most recent “mountaintop” experience?
How do you feel when you are the mountain top?
What helps you to feel close to God?
How would you describe your relationship with God now?

Reflect specifically upon:
Mark 9:14-30 (NRSV)
Now the disciples had forgotten to bring any bread; and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. And he cautioned them, saying, ‘Watch out—beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.’ They said to one another, ‘It is because we have no bread.’ And becoming aware of it, Jesus said to them, ‘Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes, and fail to see? Do you have ears, and fail to hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?’ They said to him, ‘Twelve.’ ‘And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?’ And they said to him, ‘Seven.’ Then he said to them, ‘Do you not yet understand?’

They came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village; and when he had put saliva on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, ‘Can you see anything?’ And the man looked up and said, ‘I can see people, but they look like trees, walking.’ Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he looked intently and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Then he sent him away to his home, saying, ‘Do not even go into the village.'

Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that I am?’ And they answered him, ‘John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’ He asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered him, ‘You are the Messiah.’ And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

Think about the following questions:

How can you live with the full reality of evil and yet with a strong awareness of God’s transforming power?
In what way do you feel that tension now?

Please feel free to share your response to any of the above reflection questions by posting a comment.

Week of January 25

2009-01-27T06:03:00.000-08:00

Chapter of Mark to be read: Chapter Seven
Read the entire third chapter of Mark at http://bible.oremus.org/?passage=mark+7

Reflect specifically upon:
Mark 7:24-30 (NRSV)
From there he set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, ‘Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.’ But she answered him, ‘Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.’ Then he said to her, ‘For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter.’ So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

Think about the following questions:

For what would you walk 100 miles out of your way? Why?
If Jesus came to your community, who are the “unclean” he would care for?
How might you be his hands and feel for them?

Please feel free to share your response to any of the above reflection questions by posting a comment.

Week of January 18, 2009

2009-01-18T07:49:00.000-08:00

Chapter of Mark to be read: Chapter Six
Read the entire third chapter of Mark at http://bible.oremus.org/?passage=mark+6

Reflect specifically upon:
Mark 6:30-44 (NRSV)
The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, ‘Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. When it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, ‘This is a deserted place, and the hour is now very late; send them away so that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy something for themselves to eat.’ But he answered them, ‘You give them something to eat.’ They said to him, ‘Are we to go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?’ And he said to them, ‘How many loaves have you? Go and see.’ When they had found out, they said, ‘Five, and two fish.’ Then he ordered them to get all the people to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and he divided the two fish among them all. And all ate and were filled; and they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. Those who had eaten the loaves numbered five thousand men.

Think about the following questions:

After a busy day how do you like to unwind?
How do you react when you are faced with an overwhelming sense of need?
How has Jesus fed you when you have been spiritually hungry lately?

Reflect specifically upon:
Mark 6:455-55 (NRSV)
Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After saying farewell to them, he went up on the mountain to pray.

When evening came, the boat was out on the lake, and he was alone on the land. When he saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, he came towards them early in the morning, walking on the lake. He intended to pass them by. But when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’ Then he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.

Think about the following questions:

Where are you "straining at the oars"?
How do Jesus' words speak to that storm?

Please feel free to share your response to any of the above reflection questions by posting a comment.

Week of January 11, 2009

2009-01-11T06:13:00.000-08:00

Chapter of Mark to be read: Chapter Five
Read the entire third chapter of Mark at http://bible.oremus.org/?passage=mark+5

Reflect specifically upon:
Mark 5: 1-20 (NRSV)

They came to the other side of the lake, to the country of the Gerasenes. And when he had stepped out of the boat, immediately a man out of the tombs with an unclean spirit met him. He lived among the tombs; and no one could restrain him any more, even with a chain; for he had often been restrained with shackles and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the shackles he broke in pieces; and no one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always howling and bruising himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him; and he shouted at the top of his voice, ‘What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.’ For he had said to him, ‘Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!’ Then Jesus asked him, ‘What is your name?’ He replied, ‘My name is Legion; for we are many.’ He begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. Now there on the hillside a great herd of swine was feeding; and the unclean spirits begged him, ‘Send us into the swine; let us enter them.’ So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the lake, and were drowned in the lake.

The swineherds ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came to see what it was that had happened. They came to Jesus and saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the legion; and they were afraid. Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighbourhood. As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him. But Jesus refused, and said to him, ‘Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy he has shown you.’ And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.

Think about the following questions:

When have you felt like the demoniac – torn by so many conflicting voices and feelings?
What word of peace from Jesus do you need now?

Reflect specifically upon:
Mark 5: 21-43 (NRSV)
When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered round him; and he was by the lake. Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet and begged him repeatedly, ‘My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.’ So he went with him.And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from haemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, ‘If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.’ Immediately her haemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, ‘Who touched my clothes?’ And his disciples said to him, ‘You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, “Who touched me?” ’ He looked all round to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.’

While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, ‘Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?’ But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, ‘Do not fear, only believe.’ He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. When he had entered, he said to them, ‘Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.’ And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, ‘Talitha cum’, which means, ‘Little girl, get up!’ And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Think about the following questions:

What would you do if the phone rang, the doorbell chimed, your child called for help and the oven alarm went off all at the same time?
What does it take to get you out of bed?
Why do you think Jesus makes the sick woman reveal herself?
How have you been like the woman or Jairus?

Please feel free to share your response to any of the above reflection questions by posting a comment.

Week of January 4, 2009

2009-01-04T10:17:00.000-08:00

Chapter of Mark to be read: Chapter Four
Read the entire third chapter of Mark at http://bible.oremus.org/?passage=mark+4

Reflect specifically upon:
Mark 4:35-41 (NRSV)
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, ‘Let us go across to the other side.’ And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great gale arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’ He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?’ And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?’

Read the entire third chapter of Mark at http://bible.oremus.org/?passage=mark+4

Please share your response to the following reflection questions:

What terrifying storm or storm from a movie can you recall vividly?
What emotions did the disciples feel as the storm raged on and on?
What "storms" in your life do you need Jesus to calm?

December 21 & 28

2008-12-21T06:14:00.000-08:00

Week of Dec. 21, 2008 {4th Sunday of Advent}
Week Off – Enjoy the Christmas Season!!

Week of Dec. 28, 2008 {Feast of the Holy Family}
Week Off – Enjoy the Christmas Season!!

Week Three 12/14/08: Mark Chapter Three

2008-12-15T09:43:00.000-08:00

Chapter of Mark to be read: Chapter Three
Read the entire third chapter of Mark at http://bible.oremus.org/?passage=mark+3

Reflect specifically upon:

Mark 3: 13-19 (NRSV)

He went up the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message, and to have authority to cast out demons. So he appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

and

Mark 3: 31-34 (NRSV)
Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, ‘Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.’ And he replied, ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ And looking at those who sat around him, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers!

Read the entire third chapter of Mark at http://bible.oremus.org/?passage=mark+3

Please share your response to the following reflection questions:

Why did Jesus call such ordinary guys?
What motivates you to follow to Jesus now? (Mark 3: 13-19)

Why was Jesus’ family worried about him?
What did Jesus say was the basis for a family relationship with him?
Is doing God’s will an action or a belief? (Mark 3: 31-34)

Week Two 12/07/08: Mark Chapter Two

2008-12-05T19:22:00.000-08:00


Mark, Chapter 2:1-12 (NAB)
When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Child, your sins are forgiven."



Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, "Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?"

Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, "Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, pick up your mat and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth"-- he said to the paralytic, "I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home." He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this."

Read the entire second chapter of Mark at http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/mark/mark2.htm

Please share your response to the following reflection questions based on Mark 2: 1-12

What would you be seeing and feeling if you were in this crowd?
In what ways is sin like paralysis? What freedoms has Jesus' forgiveness given to you?
In what areas do you need forgiveness now?

Week One 11/30/08: Mark Chapter One

2008-11-29T13:30:00.000-08:00



Mark, Chapter 1 (NAB)
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ (the Son of God).

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: "Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way. A voice of one crying out in the desert: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.'" John (the) Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. John was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He fed on locusts and wild honey. And this is what he proclaimed: "One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.
I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the holy Spirit.



It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."


At once the Spirit drove him out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.


After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: "This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."

As he 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. He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.


Then they came to Capernaum, and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!" Jesus rebuked him and said, "Quiet! Come out of him!" The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were amazed and asked one another, "What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him." His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.


On leaving the synagogue he entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them.


When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him.


Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, "Everyone is looking for you." He told them, "Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come." So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.


A leper came to him (and kneeling down) begged him and said, "If you wish, you can make me clean." Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, "I do will it. Be made clean." The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. Then he said to him, "See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them." The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

Please share your response to the following reflection questions based on Mark 1: 1-8

In what “spiritual wilderness” have you found yourself ?
Who played the part of John the Baptist in your life – who “prepared the way” for Jesus?
How would you describe your relationship with Jesus right now?

Our Mark Project

Week of March 29

Week of March 22

Week of March 15

The Anointing at Bethany

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

Week of March 8

Week of March 1

Week of February 22

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

Week of February 15

Week of February 8

Jesus Cures a Blind Man at Bethsaida

Peter’s Declaration about Jesus

Week of January 25

Week of January 18, 2009

Healing the Sick in Gennesaret

Week of January 11, 2009

Week of January 4, 2009

December 21 & 28

Week Three 12/14/08: Mark Chapter Three

Week Two 12/07/08: Mark Chapter Two

Week One 11/30/08: Mark Chapter One