Thanksgiving Day, 25 November, 2021: Sirach 50:22-24; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Luke 17:11-19      Why didn’t the other nine lepers thank Jesus?        They all obey Jesus when he tells them to go show themselves to the priests. Were these nine so intent on following Jesus’ instructions, that they didn’t yet notice their healing when […]

Thirty-Second Sunday, Year B, 7 November, 2021: 1 Kings 17:10-16; Hebrews 9:24-28; Mark 12:38-44     According to The Acts of the Apostles, Mark’s mother was a follower of Jesus (Acts 12:12). Ancient Church tradition understands Mark and his kinsman Barnabas to be members of the priestly clan; perhaps they were disenchanted with the priestly establishment […]

31 October, 2021, Thirty-First Sunday, Year B: Deuteronomy 6:2-6; Hebrews 7:23-28; Mark 12:28b-34      Jesus’ response to the Scribe in today’s Gospel is as challenging as it is timely. It is timely, because in an increasingly contentious world, most people do not do what Jesus and scribe do, speaking to one another, person-to-person.      What […]

Twenty-sixth Sunday, Year B, 26 September, 2021: Numbers 11:25-29; James 5:1-6; Mark 9:38-48      On the surface, there may seem to be no relationship between the two halves of today’s Gospel, but I believe Jesus is making a point and then unpacking its implications.      First he corrects John for attempting to prevent someone who […]

12 September, 2021: Twenty-Fourth Sunday, Year B: Isaiah 50:4c-9a; James 2:14-18; Mark 8:27-35        Until this episode in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus has been discouraging anyone to identify him as the Christ. Granted, up to this point it has only been demonic spirits who know who he is.      Those demonic spirits trembled at Jesus’ authority […]

At our last community-sharing on Experientia, our dear Fr. Maurice spoke of what he termed the risk of pledging obedience to one’s abbot, but then suggested that it was worth the risk for, as he said, it all works out in the end. I’m not sure whether at that time he was aware of just […]

17th Sunday, Year B, 25 July, 2021, 2 Kings 4:42-44; Ephesians 4:1-6; John 6:1-15      This Sunday the liturgy interrupts our progress through Mark’s Gospel to introduce Chapter Six from John’s Gospel. We recognize this section as John’s exposition of the Eucharist. Why he places it here rather than during the Last supper in Chapters […]

14th Sunday, YR B, 4 July, 2021: Ezekiel 2:2-5; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Mark 6:1-6      Certainly, Jesus’ one-time neighbors knew of his healing miracles or no one would have showed up for the healings mentioned at the conclusion of today’s Gospel. All of them heard him teach in their synagogue. But miracles and the proclamation […]

11th Sunday, Year B, 13 June, 2021: Ezekiel 17:22-24; 2 Corinthians 5:6-10; Mark 4:26-34       Comparing the Kingdom of God to a planted field, Jesus is describing a process that is both organic and out of my control. Certainly, I can choose to frustrate the process or cultivate it–or just ignore it; but I cannot […]

Over the years we have much appreciated the kind and encouraging comments many of you have made in response to our various postings on the abbey website. If you have tried to make a comment in the last 24 hours, you will have discovered that this is no longer possible. It is with regret that […]