30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year BJeremiah 31:7-9Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6 (3)Hebrews 5:1-6Mark 10:46-52October 24, 2021 As Jesus leaves Jericho, “Bartimaeus, a blind man,” is sitting by the roadside begging.  When he hears that Jesus of Nazareth is there, he begins to “cry out.” He may be physically blind but the words he cries …

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Suffering and Serving

Today’s first reading comes from the fourth of four passages in the Book of Isaiah that speak of a “suffering servant.” People see suffering as something terrible and to be avoided. However, in the first reading, regarding the suffering servant, we hear how “The LORD was pleased to crush him in infirmity.” It is the …

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Generations

In today’s gospel Jesus speaks of “generations.” We use the word “generation” to signify the changing of stages. Most often we use it in the sense of biological generations. When parents have children, the children began a new generation. Grandchildren would be yet another generation. Used in this sense, generations have been seen as about …

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28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year BWisdom 7:7-11Psalm 90:12-13, 14-15, 16-17 (14)Hebrews 4:12-13Mark 10:17-30October 10, 2021 A man asked Jesus, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” This is a question we all probably want to know the answer for, at least I assume since you come for Mass that you want …

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Marriage and Divorce

In the gospel for today (27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B), the Pharisees asked Jesus a question. They asked this question to test him. They were looking for a way to prove He was not the Messiah. While their motives are bad, the question can be a good question, “Is it lawful for a …

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26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year BNumbers 11:25-29Psalm 19:8, 10, 12-13, 14 (9a)James 5:1-6Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48 Jesus’ words today may seem shocking.  “If you hand causes you to sin, cut it off…And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off…And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.” Really, does …

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It is Not Easy to be Faithful

In today’s first reading we hear, “Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training.” This is not the only time in the Old Testament that we hear of the “just …

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Three Ways to Look at Discipleship

In today’s reading for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B we hear three different ways of thinking about discipleship. The first comes from the third of four servant servant oracles in the Book of Isaiah. The suffering servant is being persecuted for their faith. As they as persecuted the servant says, “I have …

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23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year BIsaiah 35:4-7aPsalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10 (1b)James 2:1-5Mark 7:31-37September 3, 2021 “Thus says the LORD:  Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not!” Fear can be a powerful thing.  Fear can dictate our actions.  What are you afraid of?  How does your fear effect your choices? Fear …

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