Scripture Reflections Seeking Understanding

This Sunday we hear John's account of the feeding of the five thousand. As a side note, John tells us that there were 'as many as five thousand men'  there, so the crowd was likely much larger. Then Jesus feeds the multitude with the loaves and fishes carried by a small boy.  What John describes is everyone being fed with plenty to spare.  I have no doubt that divine intervention played a part in this  miraculous event. But something else in this strikes me. Was this young boy the only one with the foresight to bring something with him to eat for the day? Or did many others have their hearts opened - inspired or shamed - into sharing what they had brought too?  In the reading from Ephesians that precedes this Gospel, St Paul implores us to live a life worthy of the vocation to which we are called; in charity, selflessness, and preserving the unity of the Spirit that binds us together.  For me, John's account of loaves and fishes is a lesson to trust in God'...

Today we are presented with a very brief passage from Mark's account of the Gospel that seems to be the connective tissue between two separate stories. In the first verse the disciples have returned from their mission to let Jesus know how successful they've been. And only four verses later Jesus sets himself to teach the crowds that have gathered (teaching for which we must wait until next week).  For me though, the heart of the story is in what Jesus' does with the disciples. In the midst of their success he takes them away to a quiet place. There are crowds, clamouring to hear them and be healed, and yet Jesus teaches the disciples this lesson - that unless they take the time to refresh and reconnect themselves with God, that they will not be able to continue to meet the needs of the crowd.  There's an old saying that there is no such thing as an atheist in a fox hole. In other words, almost everyone resorts to prayer when things are going wrong. But our tendency whe...

This week the Church celebrates the Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene. For many years Mary was identified as a sinful woman - the former prostitute who anointed the feet of Jesus - but this was a conflation of two separate stories in different chapters of Luke's account of the Gospel.  In 1969 Pope Paul VI issued a statement that this presumption was incorrect, rightfully recognising Mary as a woman of means - one of three whom Luke names as supporting Jesus' ministry out of their own pockets as He and the disciples travelled throughout Galilee.  In all four Gospel accounts Mary is identified as one of the constant companions of Jesus, and one of the few that were still by his side at the crucifixion. And in both Matthew's and John's accounts it was Mary to whom the resurrection was first revealed.  In 2016 Pope Francis made the decision to elevate Mary Magdalene's memorial to the status of a major feast - placing her on equal footing with the Apostles.  As the Church c...

In today's Gospel reading we are presented with Mark's account of Jesus sending the disciples out to minister to the sick and afflicted, and preach repentance.  As He instructs them Jesus prepares them for the reality that not everyone will welcome them, or the message that they will proclaim.  Nonetheless He sends them out relying on the hospitality of those they meet.  The result, Mark tells us, is that they healed many people, anointing them, and sharing the Good News of God's mercy and love.  Given the almost pessimistic instructions that they are given - right down to how to shake the dust off their sandals as they leave behind those who refuse to listen - how can we account for the positive report Mark gives us of their mission?  Two things stand out to me. The first is that the message they are proclaiming is not their own. They didn't have to rely on heir own wisdom or come up with something to say.  The disciples were formed for this mission by Jes...

Last week we heard from Mark's account of the Gospel about the healing of Jairus' daughter and the haemorrhaging woman that touched Jesus' cloak. In both cases, as in almost all of the healing miracles recorded in the Gospel, it was their faith in Jesus that made it possible for God's power to work in them. Particularly the woman who was healed without Jesus initially being ware that she had reached out to him.  Today we hear Mark's account of Jesus' return to Nazareth where He experiences, and is amazed by, their unbelief in Him. 'Where did this man get all this?' they ask.  What a contrast to 'If I can just touch His clothes, I know I will get well.'  To the people of His hometown, Jesus is still the boy they knew. The cousin and friend who, following in his father's footsteps, has become a young tradie. And now, here he is speaking to them of God.    And their lack of faith means that he cannot work miracles amongst them.  God's grace ...