The Nazareth Page - A gospel meditation for your home

August 11, 2024 – Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Mark 6:41-51

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
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When we think of food for ourselves and our families, we think of a grocery store, a supermarket or a giant box store. We choose from hundreds, perhaps even thousands of products that will satisfy our hunger.

But in the culture and time of Jesus food was always local. Grain was grown from seed, harvested when ripe, then sorted and crushed to make flour. The flour was then made moist, kneaded and baked over a fire. What resulted was bread. And bread sustained their lives. Where Jesus lived having enough bread meant survival.

So, it should not be surprising when Jesus wanted to teach us about the precious gift of life given to us by God, he pointed to consuming bread as a necessary ingredient of that life. He provided food in the form of bread for the crowds following him. And when it was close to the end of his earthly life at his last meal before he died, he took bread and wine and changed them into his own body and blood. And he directed his disciples to continue this action in the time ahead.

The Nazareth Page - A gospel meditation for your home

August 4, 2024 – Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

John 6:24-35

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
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After Jesus had fed the crowd with bread and fish, word quickly spread from village to village about this amazing event. No surprise there. We all need to eat. And we enjoy it all the more when the meal is free.

But Jesus came to live with us and feed us not simply to nourish our bodies, but also to give us a kind of nourishment that is of more value, wondrous food for our souls and spirits. He became one of us so that we might become have a more abundant life. And he showed us how to do this when he gave us himself!

He also gave us an example of how to best live this precious gift of life that we have been given by God. He showed through the example of his life his deep love for all. No exceptions. No limits. And we are invited to do the same. He directed us to go out into the world and do likewise.

The Nazareth Page- A gospel meditation for your home

July 28, 2024 – Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - John 6:1-15

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
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Today’s gospel is one most of us are familiar with: the great bread and fish meal on the hillside. Many connect this with the creation of the Eucharist at the Last Supper. Jesus is with us as food for our journey by being with us, and even in us along the way. Certainly, a remarkable gift to us.

But this gospel also serves as a reminder of our responsibility to feed the hungry, one of the great corporal works of mercy. And many do this without a thought that they are doing something very sacred. And much needed.

Primarily this feeding the hungry happens in ordinary family life. Putting food on the table for hungry kids (and their friends), for a famished spouse or anyone else who shows up at dinnertime, while it may seem common or ordinary, is also a holy matter. Further, many good people volunteer at parish kitchens, shelters, food banks and other facilities that “feed the hungry” in our midst. Add also assistance given to grown children and their families who may need extra support to insure adequate nourishment for their families.

The Nazareth Page -A gospel meditation for your home

July 21, 2024 – Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Mark 6:30-34

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
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Today’s gospel reading is one of my favorites. We hear or read the following words from Jesus. “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest awhile.”

It is summertime in our land, vacation time for many. Long ago it was learned that if one worked all the time, a certain amount of productivity is achieved. But if you occasionally step away from your work routine for rest and relaxation, you will become even more productive. Of course, these days some experience this free time as anything but a time of refreshment and peace of mind. They schedule elaborate and often quite expensive trips to overcrowded places where their stress level escalates rather than diminishes. But that’s not what Jesus was thinking when he directed his disciples to “rest awhile.”

The Nazareth Page - A gospel meditation for your home

July 14, 2024 – Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Mark 6:7-13

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
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After reading today’s gospel, I thought it might be included in a book called “Practical travel advice for committed Christians.”

Last week we read about Jesus addressing the local congregation in Nazareth, the town where he grew up. He spoke as an individual. Sort of a one-man performance.

But in this Sunday’s gospel Jesus instructs his disciples on how they were to spread his message and carry out his work after he is gone A key aspect of his directive was telling them to go out into the world “two by two.”

The Nazareth Page - A gospel meditation for your home

July 7, 2024 – Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Mark 6:1-6

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
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We are moving through Mark’s Gospel these days. Scholars say that his gospel was the first written and gives us some interesting and important historical information about Jesus. Today we learn two things about him. First, that Jesus had worked at a trade – carpentry, like his father. Second, that he had brothers and sisters. This surprises some readers because we have been led to believe that Jesus was the only child of Mary and Joseph. But we also know that these other family members may be his cousins. References to one’s extended family were very important in his day.

Another interesting point in today’s gospel is that it describes (perhaps) his first public involvement in the life of his home synagogue. There was a custom back then that anyone could offer to the assembled a word or two of comment on the biblical readings of that day. Apparently, Jesus did not do this until the incident described today. And when he did speak, those gathered that day were surprised and amazed. Maybe even a bit disturbed, too. Mark’s gospel states that “they took offense at him.”

The Nazareth Page - A gospel meditation for your home

June 30, 2024 – Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Mark 5:21-43

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
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A parent worries about a sick daughter. A woman who has spent all her savings on ineffective doctors is frustrated and seemingly is about to give up. They come to Jesus seeking assistance. It is early in his public life, but already people are beginning to notice that he is different. He is committed to helping those in need. He cares. Perhaps he can help. And he does. But not to draw attention and fame on himself. But simply to help when help is sought.

Notice that there is a certain style in the life and ministry of Jesus. He rarely calls attention to himself. Rather, he reminds people that God (whom he describes in unusually familiar family terms) is loving, compassionate, caring. And always present. There is no mention of any divine hostile judgment, revenge or anger.

By simply touching the corner of his gown (typical Middle Eastern garb) the woman’s body is restored to health. Without fanfare he heals the sick child. He does not wait around for applause. In fact, he slips away unnoticed almost hiding from the amazed crowd. That’s his style. His mission is not about himself but about giving a clear, and perhaps new to many,  sense of God as concerned and loving. Later, he will inform his followers that it can flow through them as well. So be on the lookout for opportunities to make God’s care and concern real each day to others, especially to those close by.

The Nazareth Page

A gospel meditation for your home

June 16, 2024 – Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Mark 4:26-34

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

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In my lifetime I have been fortunate to have many good teachers. I would not be the person I am today without their assistance. And it’s one of the primary reasons when it came time for me to choose a career, I decided to be a teacher.

In today’s gospel I am reminded that great teachers have ways of presenting truth that is at times deeply complex and challenging. They do so in ways that their “audience” can understand. Of course, the greatest teacher ever was Jesus, who helped all of us grasp what God is doing with us and for us. He gave examples of what God is like and how we might recognize the presence of God’s actions in our lives.

One of the central teachings of Jesus described “the Kingdom of God” as it was unfolding with his arrival. And he noted that there are signs of it happening. Some may seem quite small, but that does not mean it had not begun. He held in his hand a very small seed. They were familiar with it as its bushes were common in the area. But he noted that no one should dismiss the mustard seed because of its size. It can become something much more.

The Nazareth Page - A gospel meditation for your home

June 23, 2024 – Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Mark 4:35-41

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
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What is more common than conversations about the weather? Like many, I have family relatives and friends scattered across the country. Whenever we connect, there is always some mention of the weather. Pleasant? Uncomfortable? Miserable? Inquiring minds want to know. No matter where we live, weather conditions are usually a part of our thoughts and plans.

Another common concern is how the weather can change. More recently we are increasingly concerned of increased weather dangers. Especially impending storms. In today’s gospel we are given an account of a storm, a violent squall, that arose while Jesus and some of his disciples were on the water. Clearly a situation that could be quite dangerous, even fatal. In the midst of this danger, Mark adds that Jesus was calmly asleep on a cushion at the rear of the boat. An interesting detail.

The disciples began to panic. We don’t know much of what transpired except they woke Jesus to help. His reaction was basically to calm their fears and remind them of God’s care for them. The storm passed. They survived.

The Nazareth Page

A gospel meditation for your home

June 9^th, 2024 – Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time -Mark 3:20-35

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

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Perhaps one of the most astonishing aspects of the public life of Jesus was how he related to people he met each day. He was friendly, engaging and he didn’t seem to have favorites. His connecting with others was not prejudicial or judgmental. His interests were personal to the core and certainly not political. This bothered many religious people of his time. Their criticism might be summarized in their observation that he even ate with sinners and tax collectors. In those days one’s dinner companions were a quick way to make judgments about others, whether they were good people or perhaps not.

Todays’ gospel recalls an incident when Jesus was visiting places likely near his hometown of Nazareth. A crowd had gathered that eventually included his mother and brothers. This latter reference might be a reference to his extended family. In the customs of that time, it would be assumed that Jesus would want to excuse himself from “the crowd” and pay primary attention to this family who had recently arrived to where he was.

Surprisingly, he seems to ignore their presence and makes a point that everyone who does God’s will is his family. Please don’t read this as a snub of his biological family. He’s simply saying that he is close to all.