And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of…
And Herodias had a grudge against him [John the Baptist], and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John. –Mark 6: 19-20 Preparing for Worship Self-consciousness and guilt are useless unless they drive us to God. Herod and his wife prove it. They knew right from wrong, as we do. Herod assuaged…
But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” (Mk. 5:36) A woman finds healing by touching Jesus’ cloak, and a girl is restored to life when he takes her by the hand. In both cases a boundary is crossed: in Jesus’ time the hemorrhaging woman…
And looking at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:34) A house divided against itself cannot stand. Jesus makes this observation in light of charges that he is possessed. He is possessed, not…
Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the Sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.” (Mk. 2:27-28) Sabbath observance is constituted repeatedly in the Bible – prohibiting us from gathering food, chopping or kindling wood, traveling, no yard work, no tying or…
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.” Isaiah 6:3 When we say God is the triune God, we are saying something about who God is beyond, before, and after the universe: that there is community within God. Our experience of this is reflected in Paul’s words today. When…
