Day 157: Following Jesus

Today's readings: Mark 7-8 and Psalm 23.

I. Mark 7 Jesus confronts the Pharisees for criticizing His Apostles for eating without performing the traditional ritual washing of hands. While this is generally a good idea for hygiene reasons, He was really calling them on exalting human traditions & customs over what God had commanded. His corban example really shows what He meant by this. Jesus is not condemning all religious tradition. He is condemning human traditions that contradict God's commandments. We then see Jesus in Mark 7:14–23 emphasizing interior conversion rather than merely external religious observance, and essentially declaring all foods clean, meaning that the ritual dietary distinctions of the Mosaic Law are not binding on Christians.

Jesus next heals the daughter of a Gentile woman, and then heals a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment. All in all, in this chapter Jesus shows that authentic holiness requires interior conversion, obedience to God's commandments, humble faith, and openness to His healing grace. It's not just about reforming outward behavior, but a true transformation of the human heart.

In the next chapter, we find another anticipation of the Eucharist in the feeding of the four thousand. The Pharisees demand a sign from Him, but He refuses, for a hardened heart can reject even extraordinary evidence. Jesus then warns the Apostles to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, by which He meant that false attitudes and unbelief can corrupt spiritual understanding. He heals a blind man next, and after this, Peter confesses the truth about Who Jesus Is. However, his understanding is still incomplete, for he has not yet accepted that the Messiah must suffer as Jesus predicts He will. In response to his objection, Jesus rebukes Him and corrects Peter's misunderstanding. Finally, Jesus turns to not just His Apostles, but the crowd and tells them to take up their crosses and follow Him. This requires more than intellectual belief in Jesus. It requires a life of conversion, obedience, sacrifice, and perseverance.

II. Psalm 23 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes (verse numbers removed):

A psalm of trust. The Lord is the Shepherd and banquet Host whose blessings include peace, refreshment, comfort, and guidance. The conviction that God cares for each individual and not simply for the people of Israel as a community is central to the psalm. The reference to table and cup in 23:5 may indicate that the psalm was part of a thanksgiving liturgy in the sanctuary with its accompanying banquet. (p. 849)

That's it for today!

Day 156: Jesus Casts Out Demons

Today's readings: Mark 5-6 and Psalm 21.

I. Mark 5 Jesus heals a man possessed by demons, heals a woman who touched his garment, and raises a girl from the dead. These miracles foreshadow Christ's ultimate victory over death through His Resurrection, for He is Lord over demons, disease, and even death. Faith in Him brings healing, restoration, and life.

I like how the BIY Companion, Vol II, comments on the freeing of the demoniac:

In the exorcism of the Gerasene demoniac, Jesus sends the demons into a herd of two thousand pigs. For Jesus, one person is worth infinitely more than even two thousand pigs, though the pigs are valuable. This shows us how much the Lord cares for each of us. (p. 76)

In the next chapter, Jesus is rejected in His own hometown of Nazareth because they knew Him only as a simple carpenter. This shows that familiarity with Jesus doesn't necessarily produce faith. He next sends out the Twelve Apostles with authority to preach the Gospel. Then news of St. John the Baptist's martyrdom at the hands of King Herod becomes known, and it also foreshadows the suffering and death of Christ. Five thousand are miraculously fed from five loaves and two fish, anticipating the Eucharist and revealing Jesus as the divine provider who nourishes His people. Jesus astonishes the Twelve by walking on the Sea of Galilee, telling them to "take heart" and "do not be afraid" (Mark 6:50). Finally, He heals the sick at Gennesaret. Christ's healing power works through His humanity, which demonstrates that God can communicate grace through material signs.

II. Psalm 21 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes (verse numbers removed):

A royal psalm. It praises God for blessing the king in the past and promises his assistance in the future. The opening and closing verses stress that the Lord is the real power behind the throne. It is only by divine help that the king has become great. Some read the psalm as a liturgy of thanksgiving, perhaps conducted on the anniversary of the king's coronation. (p. 846)

I've been away for a while and am now finally returning to this. That's all for today! 

Day 155: Jesus Is Lord

Today's readings: Mark 3-4 and Psalm 20.

I. Mark 3 recounts how Jesus healed a man with a withered hand, which angered the Pharisees since it was the Sabbath. They began to plot with the Herodians to have Him killed. Jesus later attracted great crowds, and wherever He encountered evil spirits, they fell before Him, and He commanded them not to reveal Who He Is. Jesus then appoints the Twelve Apostles. Some of His relatives are convinced that "He is beside Himself." The scribes claimed that Jesus was possessed by the Devil, which He dismissed, but warned them that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit wouldn't be forgiven. When His mother and brethren come to visit Him, and He is told, Jesus says that, "Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister, and mother."

In the next chapter, He tells the Parable of the Sower before a huge crowd by the Sea of Galilee. When asked by the Apostles, Jesus explains why He chooses to speak in parables, citing Isaiah 6:9–10. Next, He told the Parable of the Seed Growing Secretly. Finally, when Jesus falls asleep in a boat with the Apostles while crossing the Sea of Galilee, a storm frightens them, and they cry out to Him. Jesus calms the storm, amazing the Apostles that He had authority over nature like this.

The BIY Companion, Vol II, notes:

Jesus shows that he is Lord over the Sabbath by fulfilling its intended purpose - bringing God's people into communion with him. Jesus speaks of the unforgivable sin - blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Ultimately, this means being willfully unrepentant and refusing to accept God's mercy and forgiveness. We need to bring everything to the foot of the Cross and allow God to forgive us... After Jesus calms the storm, the apostles ask who he can possibly be. Jesus shows them that he is the Lord, the eternal Son of the Father. (p. 74)

II. Psalm 20 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes (verse numbers removed):

A royal psalm. It is a prayer for the king's victory in battle and may have formed part of a liturgy conducted before marching off to war. The psalm joins community intercession with a word of assurance, perhaps spoken by a priest or Levite at the sanctuary. Divine protection is invoked through God's "name". (p. 846)

That's all for today!

Day 154: The Baptism of Jesus

Today's readings: Mark 1-2 and Psalm 11.

I. Mark 1 quickly establishes Jesus' authority over His disciples, doctrine, demons, disease, and ritual uncleanness, which is inseparable from His relationship with the Father. We meet John the Baptist, and Jesus is baptized, with an incredible theophany from heaven. Then Jesus faced testing in the desert by the devil. John is arrested after this; the Apostles are called to follow Him, and Jesus begins His public ministry, teaching with authority unlike the scribes. That authority is displayed when He miraculously calls out an unclean spirit from a man. Miracles are again shown in the healing of Peter's mother-in-law, and the chapter ends with His healing of a leper.

In the next chapter, Jesus shows that He has divine authority, which sparks a growing conflict with religious leaders. He forgives a paralytic of his sins in Capernaum, which angers religious leaders as blasphemy. Jesus then healed the man, showing that He does indeed have such authority. He later calls on Matthew to follow Him, and then eats dinner with him. This scandalizes the scribes and Pharisees, but He shows that He is the Divine Physician who heals sinners. When asked about fasting, He describes Himself as the Bridegroom while He is on earth. Finally, the Pharisees accuse Him of breaking the Law when His Apostles pluck grain to eat, showing that He is the Lord of the Sabbath.

The BIY Companion, Vol II, has some good commentary on this:

Scripture tells us that, due to sin, the world is in slavery to the Devil. So Jesus comes not only to teach and heal us but to save us. We can either choose to belong to the kingdom of darkness by remaining in bondage to sin or we can be transferred by the grace of Christ into the kingdom of light. When Jesus tells the paralytic that his sins are forgiven, the scribes present claim that this is blasphemy because only God can forgive sins. Here we see in the Gospels that Jesus claims to be God. (p. 72)

II. Psalm 11 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes:

A psalm of trust. The speaker is hunted by wicked men yet refuses to flee to the mountains, despite the urging of others who are concerned for his life. Instead, he seeks the Lord as his refuge, confident that God sees all things from heaven and judges all men according to their deeds. (pp. 839-40)

That's all for today!

Messianic Checkpoint #2 - The Gospel of Mark

No readings today, but another break from the Old Testament with a look by Fr. Mike Schmitz and Jeff Cavins at the Gospel of Mark.

As the BIY Companion, Vol II, notes:

Mark is the shortest of the Gospels, and some scholars believe it was the first to be written. Mark's explanation of Jewish customs suggests that his Gospel was intended for Gentile Christians. Matthew, Mark, and Luke are called the "synoptic Gospels," as all three share similar content... Jesus' faithfulness to the will of the Father will become the model for his disciples. In contrast to picking up arms and fighting the political system of the day, Jesus calls all who follow him to deny themselves, pick up their cross, and come after him. What Mark proclaims is foolishness to some but life for those who both believe and walk in the truth. (p. 71)

That's all for today!

Day 153: The Decline of Solomon

 Today's readings: 1 Kings 11, Ecclesiastes 10-12, and Psalm 9.

I. 1 Kings 11 recounts how Solomon’s heart turned away from God, and his disobedience led to the eventual division of Israel. His foreign wives turned his heart to idolatry, which greatly angered the Lord. Solomon spent his final years in turmoil as his kingdom unraveled. The prophet Abijah told Jeroboam that God had given him the ten northern tribes. Solomon tried to have him killed, but he fled to Egypt for refuge until the old king died. When he did die, his son Rehoboam took the throne, and the troubles sparked by Solomon's faithlessness began.

The BIY Companion, Vol II, notes: 

Solomon experiences an unraveling of his faith because he gives his heart to something other than the Lord - to hundreds of wives and concubines, as well as false worship... This is why it is important to choose relationships that support rather than weaken our relationship with God. It is especially important to choose a spouse who shares our faith. (p. 68)

II. Ecclesiastes 10 observes that a little folly can undo a great deal of wisdom, so the wise person should exercise prudence, self-control, and diligence, especially when dealing with authority.

In the next chapter, Qoheleth notes that man cannot control or fully understand God's providence, so we shouldn't let uncertainty paralyze us. We should work diligently, be generous, rejoice in God's gifts, and remember that God will judge how we live.

Ecclesiastes 12 brings the entire book to its conclusion. Youth, strength, pleasure, work, and earthly achievement will all pass away. Therefore, we must remember God while we still have life, and live in light of the judgment to come.

It's a pity that the reading of this great book is now at an end.

III. Psalm 9 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes:

A thanksgiving psalm. The speaker appears to be a king, i.e., someone whose enemies are individuals as well as nations. He is also someone concerned for the plight of the oppressed. Confidence is placed in the righteousness of God, who judges the world and defends the cause of the poor. (p. 838)

That's it for today!

Day 152: Being Forgotten

 Today's readings: 1 Kings 10, Ecclesiastes 8-9, and Psalm 8.

I. 1 Kings 10 parallels 2 Chronicles 9 in recounting the visit of the Queen of Sheba as well as Solomon's wealth and splendor.

II. Ecclesiastes 8 speaks of wisdom and obedience to authority, the apparent prosperity of the wicked, the mystery of earthly justice, and the observation that human reason cannot comprehend everything God does.

In the next chapter, Qoheleth observes that death comes for us all, to the righteous and the wicked, and from our earthly perspective we cannot see how everything will turn out. The dead no longer participate in the activities of this earthly life that we toil with. We should be grateful for God's temporal gifts despite life's brevity. He also observes that though we can have great intelligence and ability, these still don't guarantee earthly success. Finally, he notes that while wisdom is genuinely valuable, the wise aren't necessarily honored for it.

The BIY Companion, Vol II, has some good commentary on this:

A main takeaway from Ecclesiastes is this: if this life is all there is, then all is vanity, all is meaningless because nothing endures... Being at peace with the recognition that we will eventually be forgotten is a gift. Our lives matter because this life is not all there is. Even if I am the smartest or strongest person in the room, this is only by chance. Eventually this moment will end - and someone smarter or stronger will come along. In such moments, we are invited to surrender to the Lord rather than to give in to our desire to be in control. (p. 66)

III. Psalm 8 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes (verse numbers removed):

A psalm of praise. It begins and ends proclaiming the majesty of God, whose glory shines forth in the wonders of creation. The Psalmist stands in awe of the heavens and marvels that the Lord shows such loving concern for man. Even more, he is amazed that man, despite his lowliness, has been crowned and made king over all lesser creatures. (p. 837)

That's all for today!