Lead in: In everything he did for us, Jesus gave it his all, including on the cross when he gave his very body and blood. All of this out of love for us. In partaking of Christ’s body and blood in the Eucharist, we are invited to do the same. As Christ gave his very...

Lead in: In John 6:41 when the people heard Jesus say, “I am the bread of life,” they balked at it. “He grew up here and now he’s saying he’s the bread of life?” Jesus speaks the truth, but people stubbornly refuse to listen.Prompt: Was there ever a time when someone...

Lead in: “When the crowd saw that Jesus and his disciples weren’t there, they got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.” (John 6:24) People of today are still getting into their boats searching for Jesus. But the question is, which Jesus are they looking...

Lead in: The story in John 6 of the feeding of the five thousand marks yet another one of Jesus’ miracles. Yet miracles are not always about performing mighty deeds. Author Jay Connier reminds us that miracles happen when “acting out of the humble love of God, we make...

Lead in: In Mark 6, the disciples have just returned from their first experience proclaiming the Good News. The overwhelming success of that mission trip has left them focusing too much on their success and not enough on those they are called to serve.Prompt: Reflect...

Lead in: In Mark 6:7-13, Jesus sends the twelve out on their first mission. In this passage, Jesus can be likened to a coach givinginstructions to his team before they take to the field. “Your equipment provides you with all the protection you need. You are the...

Lead in: When Jesus returned to his hometown and was invited to speak, he stole the show.The people couldn’t believe this was the same person whom they’d known as a little boy. But then their insecurity took over and they closed their hearts to him. When our minds are...

Lead in: In Mark 5, two seemingly unrelated stories are woven together with a common thread of trust and faith. Out of love for his daughter, Jarius puts aside his position in the community and approaches Jesus to ask that he lay his hands on his daughter. A woman...

Lead in: In Mark 4, in the midst of a violent storm at sea, the panicky disciples are paralyzed by fear. Their boat is taking on water, and it looks like the swell of huge waves is about to overtake them. Amazingly Jesus, the sound sleeper he is, is oblivious to the...

Lead in: Ezekiel 17:22-24 speaks of the towering Lebanon cedar. In Mark 4, Jesus speaks of the gangly mustard bush. The Lebanon cedar of the Middle East is the equivalent to the mighty redwood of California. The mustard bush is the equivalent of the unattractive...