Fasting - When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.  17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you may not appear to others to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.  Treasure in Heaven – 19 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal.  20 But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal.  21 For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.  The Light of the Body – 22 The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be....

The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring about him to this effect, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent guards to arrest him.  33 So Jesus said, “I will be with you only a little while longer, and then I will go to the one who sent me.  34 You will look for me but not find [me], and where I am you cannot come.”  35 So the Jews said to one another, “Where is he going that we will not find him? Surely he is not going to the dispersion among the Greeks to teach the Greeks, is he?  36 What is the meaning of his saying, ‘You will look for me and not find [me], and where I am you cannot come’?”  37 On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and exclaimed, “Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink.  38 Whoever believes in me, as scripture says: ‘Rivers of living water will flow from within him.’”  39 He said this in reference to the Spirit that those who came to believe in him were to receive. There was, of course, no Spirit yet, beca...

After this, Jesus moved about within Galilee; but he did not wish to travel in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him.  2 But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near.  3 So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples also may see the works you are doing.  4 No one works in secret if he wants to be known publicly. If you do these things, manifest yourself to the world.”  5 For his brothers did not believe in him.  6 So Jesus said to them, “My time is not yet here, but the time is always right for you.  7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me, because I testify to it that its works are evil.  8 You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, because my time has not yet been fulfilled.”  9 After he had said this, he stayed on in Galilee.  10 But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, he himself also went up, not openly but [as it were] in secret.  11 The Jews were looking for hi...

So some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said, “Is he not the one they are trying to kill?  26 And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him. Could the authorities have realized that he is the Messiah?  27 But we know where he is from. When the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.”  28 So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said, “You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true.  29 I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.”  30 So they tried to arrest him, but no one laid a hand upon him, because his hour had not yet come.  31 But many of the crowd began to believe in him, and said, “When the Messiah comes, will he perform more signs than this man has done?” Some of the people of Jerusalem were surprised at Jesus’ authoritative teaching in the Temple since they knew the authorities were trying to arrest him.  They wo...

For the grace of God has appeared, saving all 12 and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, 13 as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of the great God and of our savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people as his own, eager to do what is good (Tit. 2:11-14) We ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, deluded, slaves to various desires and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful ourselves and hating one another.  4 But when the kindness and generous love of God our savior appeared, 5 not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of his mercy, he saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the holy Spirit, 6 whom he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our savior, 7 so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life (Titus 3:3-7). Titus, a Gentile co...

On another sabbath he went into the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered.  7 The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely to see if he would cure on the sabbath so that they might discover a reason to accuse him.  8 But he realized their intentions and said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up and stand before us.” And he rose and stood there.  9 Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?”  10 Looking around at them all, he then said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so and his hand was restored.  11 But they became enraged and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.  12 In those days he departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God.  13 When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named apostles: 14 Simon, whom he...

It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John.  10 On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him.  11 And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”  12 At once the Spirit drove him out into the desert, 13 and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him. Mark’s focus in this section was to reveal Jesus’ true identity.  John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  Jesus had no sin, so he had no need to be baptized but he said, “ Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness (Mt. 3:15) .”  In a sermon on the Baptism of Christ, St. Gregory of Nazianzen (c. 329 AD-c. 390 AD) said, “ He comes to sanctify the Jordan for our sake and in readiness for us; he who is spiri...

"If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony cannot be verified.   32 But there is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that the testimony he gives on my behalf is true.   33 You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth.   34 I do not accept testimony from a human being, but I say this so that you may be saved.   35 He was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light.   36 But I have testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me.   37 Moreover, the Father who sent me has testified on my behalf. But you have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38 and you do not have his word remaining in you, because you do not believe in the one whom he has sent.   39 You search the scriptures, because you think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on my behalf.  ...

For the Feast of the Epiphany on the mystery of the Lord’s baptism in the Jordan. The Gospel tells us that the Lord went to the Jordan River to be baptized and that he wished to consecrate himself in the river by signs from heaven. Reason demands that this feast of the Lord’s baptism, which I think could be called the feast of his birthday, should follow soon after the Lord’s birthday, during the same season, even though many years intervened between the two events. At Christmas he was born a man; today he is reborn sacramentally. Then he was born from the Virgin; today he is born in mystery. When he was born a man, his mother Mary held him close to her heart; when he is born in mystery, God the Father embraces him with his voice when he says: This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased: listen to him . The mother caresses the tender baby on her lap; the Father serves his Son by his loving testimony. The mother holds the child for the Magi to adore; the Father reveals that his Son...

After the two days, he left there for Galilee.  44 For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his native place.  45 When he came into Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, since they had seen all he had done in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves had gone to the feast.  46 Then he returned to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. Now there was a royal official whose son was ill in Capernaum.  47 When he heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, who was near death.  48 Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.”  49 The royal official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”  50 Jesus said to him, “You may go; your son will live.” The man believed what Jesus said to him and left.  51 While he was on his way back, his slaves met him and told him that his boy would live.  52 He asked them w...

I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the holy Spirit (John 1:33).'   In a plan of surpassing beauty the Creator of the universe decreed the renewal of all things in Christ. In his design for restoring human nature to its original condition, he gave a promise that he would pour out on it the Holy Spirit along with his other gifts, for otherwise our nature could not enter once more into the peaceful and secure possession of those gifts. He therefore appointed a time for the Holy Spirit to come upon us: this was the time of Christ’s coming. He gave this promise when he said:  In those days , that is, the days of the Savior,  I will pour out a share of my Spirit on all mankind. When the time came for this great act of unforced generosity, which revealed in our midst the only-begotten Son, clothed with flesh on this earth, a man born of woma...

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ [the Son of God].  2 ''As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way.  3 A voice of one crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.’”  4 John [the] Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  5 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.  6 John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He fed on locusts and wild honey.  7 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.  8 I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the holy Spirit.” The author of Mark’s Gospel starts his Good News of Jesus Chr...

While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him.  47 [Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.”]  48 But he said in reply to the one who told him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?”  49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers.  50 For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.” This event gave Jesus the opportunity to explain to his disciples the difference between those who accepted his word and followed him and those who do not accept him and are ‘ standing outside ’ of the kingdom (v. 46-47).  His true family is “Those who hear the word of God and act on it (Lk. 8:21).”  Jesus’ comments were not meant to subordinate the natural family or family ties, but to stress the importance of the ties that each member of the community he was for...

As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.  19 He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”  20 At once they left their nets and followed him.  21 He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, 22 and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.  23 He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people.  24 His fame spread to all of Syria, and they brought to him all who were sick with various diseases and racked with pain, those who were possessed, lunatics, and paralytics, and he cured them.  25 And great crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, and...

'Arise! Shine, for your light has come, the glory of the Lord has dawned upon you.  2 Though darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds, the peoples, Upon you the Lord will dawn, and over you his glory will be seen.  3 Nations shall walk by your light, kings by the radiance of your dawning.  4 Raise your eyes and look about; they all gather and come to you— Your sons from afar, your daughters in the arms of their nurses.  5 Then you shall see and be radiant, your heart shall throb and overflow. For the riches of the sea shall be poured out before you, the wealth of nations shall come to you.  6 Caravans of camels shall cover you, dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; All from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense, and heralding the praises of the Lord.' The prophet Isaiah gave a vision of hope.  This vision could be applied to the birth of Jesus Christ who came to free those who believe in him from slavery to sin.  Verse 1 could be a foretelling o...

The Jews murmured about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven,” 42 and they said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother? Then how can he say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 43 Jesus answered and said to them, “Stop murmuring among yourselves.  44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day.  45 It is written in the prophets: ‘They shall all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me.  46 Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father.” The Jews murmured in their unbelief like the Israelites in the desert during the exodus (Ex. 15:24; 16:2,7,12), and they complained that it was not possible for Jesus (portrayed in John’s Gospel as the new Moses) to claim to be the bread from heaven because they knew of his origin – Joseph and Mary.  Jesus told them that only he cou...

'Some in the crowd who heard these words said, “This is truly the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Messiah.”  41 But others said, “The Messiah will not come from Galilee, will he?  42 Does not scripture say that the Messiah will be of David’s family and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?”  43 So a division occurred in the crowd because of him.  44 Some of them even wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.  45 So the guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not bring him?”  46 The guards answered, “Never before has anyone spoken like this one.”  47 So the Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived?  48 Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him?  49 But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed.”  50 Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them, 51 “Does our law condemn a person before it first hears him...

'Now this is the message that we have heard from him and proclaim to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.  6 If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do not act in truth.  7 But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin.  8 If we say, “We are without sin,” we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  9 If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.  10 If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.’ God is the author of truth and goodness.  God and Jesus are both free of sin and darkness.  We, in our fallen state, tend towards evil thoughts and deeds (Jn. 3:19-21).  If we prefer evil, we walk in darkness.  We can only have fellowship with God if we turn from darkn...

Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, 42 and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom.  43 After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.  44 Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.  46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, 47 and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers.  48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”  49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s ...