Lead in: What if one day you were not able to speak or hear? How isolating that would be!In Mark 7, Jesus encounters such a man, a deaf-mute. His disability leaves him isolated from a world he wants to be part of.Prompt: Reflect on a time when you felt isolated from a...

Lead in: The Pharisees along with some scholars from Jerusalem noticed that some of Jesus’ disciples were not being careful with ritual washings before meals. So they asked Jesus, “Why do your disciples brush off the rules and eat without washing their hands?” In...

Lead in: In John 6, Jesus boldly tells the crowds, “Unless you eat my flesh, you have no life within you.” On hearing this, many decided to leave Jesus. In a homily, Pope Francis offers insight as to why this happened. In saying this, Jesus indicated that God’s love...

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...