Rev'd Up for Sunday

This week, we find Jesus' disciples arguing over who is the greatest, and he responds with a lesson in ambition. Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy lay out a theology of place and movement, examining what it means to leave everything behind to follow Jesus, and why we still struggle with needing to be the best. Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org

Why did Jesus have to die? If this seems a little baffling to you, remember that even his disciples had trouble understanding it. Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy discuss spiritual blindness, what it means to deny oneself, and if Jesus actually needed to suffer. Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org

"Rev'd Up for Sunday" turns 3! On this special episode, Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy discuss what we know about St. Mark, what makes his Gospel unique, what to think of this week's reading, and what stands out after 3 years of podcasting. There's a lot packed into one episode but the clergy are determined to have their cake and eat it too! Chapters 00:0...

How do you hold to tradition and piety while bringing new people and new beliefs into the mix? That’s the struggle the Pharisees found themselves contending with as they got some pushback from Jesus. Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy discuss the dangers of tribalism and take a brief look at the different vices Jesus warned about.  Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stma...

In this week's Gospel lesson, people are really struggling with what Jesus has to say, and some are even walking away. Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy discuss belief, the strangeness of religious teachings, and the scandalous nature of Jesus' words. Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org

In this week's Gospel reading, Jesus says to eat his flesh and drink his blood, which certainly raised some eyebrows among those who took these words literally. Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy offer their own views on the Eucharist, the cross, and eternal life. They also highlight why we need to be as shocked by Jesus' words today as the people he encountered. Learn more...

John's Gospel still has a lot more to say about bread this week. More specifically, the "Bread of Life". Peter Walsh and John Kennedy lay out why Jesus' words are both profoundly simple and difficult to understand, how he brings a new development and consciousness for humanity, and what he offers for the spiritually hungry. Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmark...

People want to know where Jesus ran off to after his feeding of the 5,000. When they finally catch up with him, he offers a far more satisfying kind of bread. Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy talk about the spiritual sustenance Jesus offers, his vision for the people being one, and why we need the Eucharist along with reconciliation. Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www....

In this week's Gospel text, we see two of Jesus' most famous miracles: the feeding of the 5,000 and walking on water. Peter Walsh and John Kennedy reveal how these signs echo the story of Moses, what they say about Jesus, and why Jesus would walk away from the crowds at the peak of his Galilean ministry. Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org

A lot of people want the help or attention of Jesus in this week's Gospel lesson, and he has a simple piece of advice for his disciples...rest. Peter Walsh and John Kennedy discuss the importance of rest as a spiritual discipline, how we adjust to our increasingly busy world, and which word is used more than any other to describe Jesus' emotional state. Learn more about St. Mark's a...

Don't lose your head over this episode! This week, the Gospel moves away from Jesus and his disciples for a flashback about the beheading of John the Baptist and the evil plot that caused it. Peter Walsh and Elizabeth Garnsey explore how the story of John & Herod foreshadows Jesus & Pilate, and how this stands as a cautionary tale of power and corruption. Learn more about St. Mark&apo...

With all the miracles Jesus has been doing, you'd expect his hometown to have a little more faith in him. Elizabeth Garnsey and John Kennedy reflect on why Jesus was a hometown zero (instead of a hero), how the Church can still be blind to God working through new people, and even what Jesus recommends for a Summer packing list. Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan....

Jesus was pretty in demand! On his way to one healing, he finds himself in the midst of another! Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy explain the importance of these two events being sandwiched together, how this story is a joining of Jesus' power and compassion, and what this reveals about the impoverished and the privileged. Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmark...

Many of us are familiar with the story of Jesus calming a raging storm, but is this really just a story about weather? Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy highlight Mark's Christology, the Hebrew symbolism of chaotic waters, and what this story means to a community in distress. Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org

If you've ever wondered what the kingdom of God is like, Jesus offers some parables to explain. Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy unpack why the images Jesus chose would have been so important to Mark's audience, where Christianity has twisted this kingdom imagery, and what our role in the kingdom might be. Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.o...

If you've ever felt like your family just doesn't get you, you're in good company. Jesus felt the same way! Peter Walsh and Elizabeth Garnsey take a look at this story of Jesus breaking away from his family, defending accusations of being possessed, and making claims about unforgivable sin. What does it all mean? Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org

Rules surrounding the Sabbath have Jesus and the Pharisees at odds in this week's Gospel text. Peter Walsh and Elizabeth Garnsey warn us not to make the Pharisees into caricatures of bad guys. They also look at the origins and importance of the Sabbath and how we should understand all the Biblical figures dealing with "hardened hearts". Learn more about St. Mark's at https://ww...

Nicodemus struggled with taking the things Jesus said too literally. But then again, so do we sometimes! Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy dive into the ways in which Nicodemus is an archetype for us, the challenges of doctrine, and how the Trinity is an experience of God's closeness. Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org

Who or what is the Holy Spirit? Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy explore how the Spirit can be both Advocate and Prosecutor, and ponder its relationship with the world. Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org

In this week's Gospel reading, Jesus prays for his disciples as he prepares to leave them. Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy look at what it means for the disciples to become agents of change, how we are to be set apart from the world, and how Jesus calls us to be united. Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org

Does Jesus really expect us to lay our lives down for one another? It looks like another week of challenging advice from Jesus, so Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy once again explain what Jesus is teaching us. How does this relate to us today? Also, what is so unique about Christian spirituality and what is John's hot take on Christian ethics? Learn more about St. Mark's...

Last week, Jesus was a shepherd...now he's a vine? Peter Walsh and John Kennedy analyze Jesus' symbolic message from John 15, discuss how Jesus is helping us reach our potential, and reveal what this says about the heart of Christian meditation. Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org

This week, Jesus labels himself as the Good Shepherd. Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy discuss what that means, why there's an abundance of sheep and shepherd imagery in the Church, and who the other sheep are that Jesus is calling. Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org

It's a ghost! Or is it? Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy discuss a resurrection appearance where the disciples think they're seeing a ghost and Jesus explains that he is so much more. How does this help the disciples understand the messiah in a new light and how can we come to terms with the mystical nature of the resurrection? Learn more about St. Mark's at https://...

This next story is so jam-packed, it's hard to decide where to begin! Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy discuss Thomas and his doubt, Jesus' ability to appear out of nowhere, spirituality vs religion, and the type of forgiveness Jesus is talking about. Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org