A Courageous Mother

24From there he set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, 25but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. 26NowContinue reading “A Courageous Mother”

What Makes You Unclean

14Then he called the crowd again and said to them, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand: 15there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.” 17When he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about the parable. 18HeContinue reading “What Makes You Unclean”

The Spirit of Commandment

9Then he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition! 10For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.’ 11But you say that if anyone tells father or mother, ‘Whatever support you might haveContinue reading “The Spirit of Commandment”

Scribes and Pharisees

Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, 2they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. 3(For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; 4andContinue reading “Scribes and Pharisees”

Who Rules the Sea?

5Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones. 6For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord? Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord, 7a God feared in the council of the holy ones, great and awesome above all that are around him? 😯 Lord God ofContinue reading “Who Rules the Sea?”

Walking on Water

45Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46After saying farewell to them, he went up on the mountain to pray. 47When evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48WhenContinue reading “Walking on Water”

The Death of John the Baptist

17For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. 18For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wantedContinue reading “The Death of John the Baptist”

Sending out the 12

7He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; 9but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. 10He saidContinue reading “Sending out the 12”

Own Understanding

5Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. 6In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6, NRSV) In everything we do we need to trust in God. You see we think we know what is best for us. But really we don’tContinue reading “Own Understanding”

Help Comes from the Lord

1I lift up my eyes to the hills— from where will my help come? 2My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 3He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. 4He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade atContinue reading “Help Comes from the Lord”