Cup o' Joe

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 16, verses 15-18 Today we celebrate a major feast day - the Conversion of Paul.  What may seem like a fringe incident as we listen to the Gospels and study the life of Jesus is actually central to who we are and how we came to be.  And it still holds truths for us all these years later. Original score written and performed by Bridget Zenk

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 3, verses 22-30 On this Feast of St. Francis de Sales (bishop and doctor of the Church), Jesus speaks to us about Truth, even as He is being undermined by those around Him.  And toward the end, He speaks about the unforgiveable sin - the sin against the Holy Spirit.  Exactly what is that?  And how do we avoid falling into such a thing? Original music by Bridg...

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 3, verses 13-19 On this Feast of St. Agnes, we see Jesus invite people along for the journey.  The job description?  Be prepared to climb, stick together, don't get comfortable.  The qualifications?  Was it goodness?  Holiness?  Insight?  Nope.  Possibility...and the ability to say yes.  

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 3, verses 7-12 Jesus, having faced confrontation at every turn, tries to get away.  But He just can't.  People seek Him out and press in upon Him.  Does he lash out and get angry, just asking others for space?  No.  Instead, He gets creative in how He creates that space.  We are also challenged to remain humble in our understanding and knowledg...

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 3, verses 1-6 We get what we watch for.  We see what we want to see.  So did the Pharisees.  They set a trap for Jesus and laid in wait...and He gave them exactly what they were hoping to see.  He gave them a reason to despise Him and want Him put to death.  We get what we watch for.  

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 2, verses 23-23 Another day, another argument with the Pharisees.  This time, it deals with the law and the purpose of the law.  Jesus invites us into the law and invites us to wrestle with it.  Others would simply invite us to follow and not engage.  It's a worthy conversation for us today as well.  

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 2, verses 18-22 Jesus is challenged by the disciples of both John the Baptist as well as the Pharisees for his lack of following the tradition.  And so He uses an odd example to make a point - using wineskins and old cloth.  But essentially He's saying this: what will we choose to take with us?  Why do we allow the past to dictate the present?  And what...

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 2, verses 1-12 Today brings another healing.  That's no surprise in Mark's Gospel.  But how it comes about - through the faith and creativity of friends - is what captures our attention here.  We've been on both sides of this healing...on the mat and lowering another down.  Today, we thank God for the faith and creativity of those in our life who brought...

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 1, verses 40-45 Three Gospels in a row, three healings.  Jesus isn't one to sit on the sidelines.  He's in the battle to bring about the Kingdom of God.  So what about us?

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 1, verses 29-39 Jesus leaves the synagogue and goes to the house of Peter - where he continues to teach his followers what the Kingdom looks like.  It looks like seeing those who are separate.  It looks like interceding for them.  And it looks like grasping their hand.  Second point?  What season of life are you in?

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 1, verses 21-28 Yesterday, Jesus called His followers.  Today, we see where He is leading them: to the synagogue where He will take the battle to the rulers/princes of this world.  And He does so through teaching and action.  And if we're following, that's our path, too.

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 1, verses 14-20 The baptism is accomplished, and now the mission begins...for Jesus and for us.  

Gospel of Luke, Chapter 5, verses 12-16 Jesus.  A leper.  An encounter between the two.  We've seen this movie before and we know where it's going.  But there is an interaction between the two in this story that doesn't happen in many others.  And it's worth digging a little deeper into that interchange.  

Gospel of Luke, Chapter 4, verses 14-22 Jesus, immediately after His baptism, is led by the Spirit into that place of unsettling quiet in order to ponder where His baptism was calling Him.  What was true then is also true now.  Our baptism invites us to mission.  Do we take the time in quiet places to listen to where that action and where the Spirit is calling us?

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 6, verses 45-52 Following the Feeding of the 5,000, Jesus sends his disciples out onto the Sea of Galilee without Him, seemingly for a test to see how they do without His presence.  Fittingly, they struggle and are filled with fear.  It's not until Jesus is invited in the boat that the winds die down and they can move forward.  Love or fear.  It's a deci...

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 6, verses 34-44 We listen to a familiar story today - the feeding of the 5,000.  And while we are still in the Christmas season, we may ask ourselves "Why hear this story now?  What does it have to do with Christmas?"  Really, everything.  Remember, Christ was laid in a manger...a feeding trough.  He is Bread for the world.  And He gives us a b...

Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 4, verses 12-17, 23-25 We begin to focus on the early ministry of Jesus, immediately after he comes out of the desert following his baptism.  What do we see?  His life changes.  He moves.  He publicly begins teaching  And he welcomes people from every geographic location.  In other words, he takes to heart his own message - "Repent"...turn a...

Gospel of John, Chapter 1, verses 1-18 Today, we hear John's beautiful poem that opens up his Gospel - the one that reminds us that Jesus was there in the beginning of all things.  Not only that, but Jesus is there at the beginning of all good things that happen within our life as well.  And yes, He is there at the beginning of all new years. Take time today to thank God for the good tha...

Gospel of Luke, Chapter 2, verses 36-40 Yesterday we heard Simeon as Mary and Joseph approached the Temple for the Presentation of the Lord.  Today, the prophetess Anna takes center stage and she, like Simeon before her, didn't allow what was seen on the outside to inhibit her from seeing what was really before her...

Gospel of Luke, Chapter 2, verses 22-35 Today we hear about the Presentation of our Lord in the Temple, 40 days after His birth.  But our focus is actually less on Christ than it is on two other people: a man named Simeon and a woman named Mary.  One has been seeking the Christ his whole life.  And one is destined for a sword to pierce her heart.  Both are true then and now.&nb...

Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 2, verses 13-18 On this Feast of the Holy Innocents, we skip ahead of this weekend's feast, to hear about Herod's insecurity and his lust for power.  This focus on the self, unfortunately, can only bring destruction to those in his path, including little children.  

Gospel of John, Chapter 20, verses 1-8 On this Feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist, we celebrate the role of love and of listening to the heartbeat of God.  Forget Red Bull - this is truly what gives us wings and helps us soften our sharp edges.  

Gospel of Luke, Chapter 2, verses 1-14 We have three separate Gospels from which we could have read today - but how could we read from any other than The Story?  Ready or not, here He comes...

Gospel of Luke, Chapter 1, verses 57-66 Our focus changes from the story of Mary to the story of Zechariah, Elizabeth and John.  And once again, we see God naming someone that portends to the mission he will carry out.  Of course, what was true then is also true now...

Gospel of Luke, Chapter 1, verses 46-56 Today, Mary takes center stage in her great proclamation of God's goodness.  She also, in as clear a way as possible, reminds us of the dignity of those on the edges and how we need to identify ourselves as one of them.  For not to do so implies that we do not need a savior.