Cup o' Joe

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 10, verses 28-31 As we celebrate Fat Tuesday, we hear a Gospel that goes hand in hand with yesterday's message: Will we have hands that are unable to let go of our possessions, or can we open them and set ourselves free.  Jesus points out the benefit of a life not controlled by possession in today's message. Original score written and performed by Bridget Zenk

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 10, verses 17-27 As Jesus sets out on another journey, He is approached by a young man with many possessions - asking how he can possess yet one more thing: the Kingdom.  Jesus answers him in love.  But where Jesus is inviting the young man to go is someplace the young man is not able to travel.  At least not yet.  Some roots in the young man - and in us...

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 10, verses 1-12 Jesus is not afraid to take on controversy, but He doesn't allow others to set the narrative.  And so when the Pharisees bring up the age old controversy of divorce and try to paint Jesus in a corner, Jesus will have nothing of it.  Instead, Jesus reminds us what the very root and image of marriage is about - and those words echo through history to...

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 9, verses 41-50 Jesus speaks of those aspects of our lives - be they feet, hands and eyes or attitudes, ideas and practices - that separate us from God.  And He has little time for them.  Either these things bring us closer to God and God's Kingdom, or they draw us farther away.  And if they are separating us from God, what are we willing to do about that? Or...

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 9, verses 38-40 In this brief reading, the apostle John attempts to create boundaries around who can minister in Jesus's names and who cannot.  Jesus sets him straight.  In one of the shortest Gospels we've had recently, Jesus stares straight through 2,000 years of history and asks us if we have learned the lesson or not yet. St Polycarp, pray for us Original scor...

Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 16, verses 13-19 On this Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, we hear a story very familiar with us.  And not the least of which is because we heard Mark's rendition of it last Thursday.  But our focus changes with this feast day.  Instead of focusing on Jesus's question, we focus on the keys and the role of Peter within and among the group of apostles. PS - m...

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 9, verses 14-29 Today we hear a story of Jesus healing in a place of both faith and doubt.  Let that be good news to us, for it is in that place that most of us live.  My apologies to listeners today: for some reason the volume of the podcasts increases significantly around the 17:40 mark of the pod today.  I'm uncertain of the reason why, but be aware so tha...

Gospel of Mark, Chapters 8/9, verses 34-1 Jesus picks up from where he left off in his chastening of Peter, this time inviting the crowd (read: you and me!) around to hear it.  The ultimate question?  Who is leading whom?  If we are leading, we will often end up in the exact wrong spot - placing ourselves, our ego and our comfort in the center.  If Jesus is leading, it's going...

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 8, verses 27-33 Jesus, walking with his disciples in the area of Caesarea Philippi, has the courage to ask two questions: Who do people say that I am? and Who am I to you?  These are questions that can only be asked either by someone searching for an identity or someone already certain of their identity.  Jesus is the latter.  All too often, we are the former...

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 8, verses 22-26 In a unique story that is only found in the Gospel of Mark (I believe), a blind man is brought to Jesus and asked to be healed.  What takes place is both humorous and poignant.  And it has something to say to you and I today as well. Original score written and performed by Bridget Zenk

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 8, verses 14-21 Presumably on the same day that Jesus just fed the multitude with a handful of loaves of bread, the disciples are crossing the Sea of Galilee w/ Jesus and are concerned because they forgot to bring any food with them.  Jesus, however, has something different on His mind: beware of the food that the Pharisees and followers of Herod are giving out. ...

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 8, verses 11-13 On this Feast of Ss. Cyril & Methodius (ok, and St Valentine!), Jesus is confronted (I'm shocked!) by the Pharisees, demanding a sign from heaven to test Him.  This is immediately following Jesus's feeding of the 5,000 - so I'm not quite sure how they missed that one.  Their eyes are closed to what is all around them.  And while it's easy...

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 7, verses 31-37 We conclude Mark's seventh chapter with another encounter of a Gentile in Gentile Territory - this one blind with a speech impediment.  Jesus takes him off on his own...and only there is wholeness found.  My friends, there is truth there for us as well - and it relates to our baptism. Then I tell a story of our daughter Bridget (the same one who cr...

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 7, verses 24-30 Today's Gospel is a real challenge.  Jesus tries to escape to non-Jewish territory but is met by a Gentile woman.  And in this interchange, Jesus treats her in a way that He treats no one else in all of the Gospels, at least to my recollection.  Is He testing her?  Is He tired and ornery?  Does He need to be opened?  I invite yo...

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 7, verses 14-23 Jesus turns His attention from the Pharisees and Scribes to the crowds and focuses on a single issue: how do we pollute the environment around us?   Original score written and performed by Bridget Zenk

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 7, verses 1-13 Some Pharisees and Scribes from Jerusalem come up to spend time with Jesus - and give him a hard time about how His disciples don't keep the traditions of the elders.  Jesus has no problem holding a mirror up to them and challenging them on their understanding of tradition.  With a Gospel like that, it's an appropriate time to talk about the Traditi...

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 6, verses 53-56 Jesus draws closer to his home in Capernaum, where He is well known - and the crowds come out in droves to hear Him, bringing their sick to Him for healing.  And how does much of this healing happen?  Through touch.  We hear today in this Gospel reading of how we recognize Christ and of the importance of touch in our lives as well. Original Sc...

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 6, verses 14-29 We step away from the story of Jesus to instead focus on Herod Antipas and John the Baptist.  It's a story we know well: adultery, speaking truth to power, dances and being trapped in our own promises.  So what does it have to teach us today?  Plenty.  Let's start w/ our own baggage. Original score written and performed by Bridget Zenk

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 6, verses 7-13 Jesus summons his friends and sends them out two by two on mission.  But prior to sending, he instructs them not to take too much along with them.  Trust in God.  Trust in the goodness of those to whom they will minister.  Trust in themselves.  And do so with a joyful heart, because that will be the witness as to how life can be appro...

Gospel of Luke, Chapter 2, verses 22-32 It is 40 days after the Great Feast of Christmas - and so today we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.  This feast celebrates and focuses on two people: Jesus and Mary.  Poor Joseph was along for the ride.  Consecration and Purification.  And it holds lessons for us today.  

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 5, verses 21-43 We close out chapter 5 of Mark's Gospel (in two days!) with another long reading containing a story within a story: two women, suffering and moving closer to death.  Both cause acts of desperation.  And both lead toward salvation and new life.  What do we have to learn within these stories?  It's ok to be honest with God.  And desper...

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 5, verses 1-20 On this feast of St. John Bosco, Jesus gets into a boat with his friends and crosses over to the other side of Lake Galilee.  What he encounters there is a madman, awe, anger and ultimately healing.  He simply had to have the courage to make the journey.   Original score written and performed by Bridget Zenk

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 4, verses 26-34 We celebrate Thomas Aquinas, one of the most brilliant minds in all of Christianity.  And one of Thomas's tenants: God can be rationally seen within creation.  So what better than to apply that reasoning to our Gospel today.  Jesus uses two other images for what the Kingdom of God is like and he uses images that would be familiar to the people...

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 4, verses 21-25 Jesus, fresh from speaking to us about planting the seed in good soil, reminds us that that seed is within to be grown.  The light is given to us in order to be shown, not hidden.  And counterintuitively, in giving it away, we find we have more to give.  Generosity begets generosity.   Original score written and performed by Bridget...

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 4, verses 1-20 Another day, another feast - today the Feast of Ss. Timothy & Titus.  Today we hear Jesus teach a familiar parable - the sower and the seeds.  Our challenge?  Don't let it get too familiar.  Let's invite ourselves into the story and ask - which soil, which field are we today and how do we become familiar when the soil within us changes...