Mark only briefly mentions Satan’s temptation of Jesus in the wilderness.  Whereas Matthew and Luke elaborate the three-fold temptation, Mark has merely this: At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him […]

The cross is central to the Gospel of Mark.  Though his Gospel is much shorter than the others, Mark’s passion account is just as long as Matthew’s and Luke’s. Mark also introduces the plot to kill Jesus much earlier (3:6) than the others.  Mark fixes his readers’ gaze on the cross, the lens through which […]

O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had […]

Father, grant us grace to take up our crosses and follow Jesus in the way of suffering and death.  We know that the only way to resurrection and victory is through suffering and the cross, but it is difficult.  We love our pleasures.  We love the trivial pursuits that take up our time and fill […]

In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus is constantly touching people.  Not only this, but he touches people he isn’t supposed to be touching, according to the purity codes of his culture. In Mark 1, Jesus heals a leper: A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can […]

Some theological traditions have a difficult time with Scripture’s vision of humanity’s robust role within creation.  Perhaps it has to do with an overdose of an Augustinian conception of human sinfulness.  This affects how we conceive of all facets of salvation.  Does God save us from creation and give us a heavenly destiny?  Or, are […]

My friend Linda Mortensen is posting daily meditations through the season of Lent on her blog, Home Alone With Books. This one introduces the series, and here’s her post for today.

*A homily given on Ash Wednesday at Midtown Christian Community, Feb. 17, 2010 Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, […]

Chris Seay invites individuals, small groups, and churches to spend 40 days of solidarity with the poor.  This is a very simple and practical way to draw upon God’s grace and become agents of God’s goodness to others. Our daily dinner together is a big deal for our family.  We eat well, we eat lots, and […]

I’m enjoying James Thompson’s commentary in Hebrews.  His summary of the author’s use of scripture in ch. 2 captures nicely the relationship of the historical-critical method to theological interpretation of the Bible. The historical-critical reading of scripture has been an invaluable instrument for the reading of the Bible, for its insistence on discovering the meaning […]