ORDINARY TIME, WEEK 32
November 8, 2009
Mk 12, 38-44

THE WIDOW’S MITE

As Jesus walks to Jerusalem, in Mark’s gospel, he meets some ‘little people’ who seem to sum up the values of this gospel.  There is a grieving father; there is a bevy of children; there is an unknown exorcist who casts out devils in Jesus’ name; there is a blind beggar… Today we meet the last in this series.  It is the final public act of Jesus before his farewell speech (Mk 13) and passion (Mk 14-16).  The last little person is a poor widow who gives her whole livelihood to the temple. 

ALL SAINTS AND ALL SOULS
Sunday, November 1st (and Monday, November 2nd) 2009
1. (Some basic ideas)

I would like on this occasion of the feast of all saints, to put words on four things a lot of people find it hard to articulate even to themselves….Hell, heaven, God, and anxiety!

ORDINARY TIME, 30TH WEEK
October 25, 2009
Mk 10, 46-52
SEEING THE POINT AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME

The gospel today is about a blind man.  I am going to use my imagination and think that he is actually a commentator on what is going on in today’s world.  [Many such commentators are blind…we are too, when we try things like that!]  I would like to spell out what might be going on in his head about our history, our culture, our politics, our economics… Of course it may be muddled.  After all, he’s blind!

ORDINARY TIME, 29TH WEEK
October 18, 2009
Mk 10, 35-45
BIG LITTLE MEN  mini-series on discipleship, no.5

There is one more trait of the ‘child’ disciple of Jesus that needs unpacking…

Mark often presents the core theme, ‘being a servant’, being a ‘child’, as a huge demand.  Some could read it as a recommendation to drop out from public life as we know it and even condemn it.   If you ask people to be as children, you might be thought to exploit them, not serve them.  You might be making them unduly passive when action is appropriate.