Audio Divina

Busy with the affairs of my Father: The final epsiode of Luke's story of Jesus' infancy is the only place where Jesus speaks. His parents' concerns over his loss are challenged by his response that h…

The Word became Flesh: The Prologue to the Gospel of John is among the most profound passages in the Bible. It tells of the pre-existent union of love between God and the Word, the Word's saving gift…

Swaddling cloths and a manger on the road: Luke's account of a birth of Jesus, as with the appearance of John the Baptist, is fixed in a given time and place. But it is surrounded by the symbols of s…

Why should we be honoured? Two mothers meet, as Mary visits Elizabeth. Elizabeth and the child she is carrying salute the greatness of Mary, a greatness that has been bestowed on her because she has …

What must we do?: Continuing his ministry of preparation for the Lord, John the Baptist instructs the people, the tax-collectors, and the soldiers, that they are to do justly what they have always do…

Prepare the Way of the Lord: The great figure of Advent, John the Baptist, set in a time and place in the history of humankind, proclaims a time of preparation for the Lord, and the sight of the salv…

The two advents of Jesus: The first Sunday of Advent does not focus upon the coming of Jesus at Christmas time, but on the final coming of Jesus at the end of all time. This Gospel reading catches a …

I am a King: The final Sunday of Year B is dedicated to Jesus' universal kingship. As we have seen throughout our reflections on the Gospel of Mark, Jesus lays no claim to be a king who exercises wor…

My words will not pass away: We hear words from the Jesus of the Gospel of Mark for the last time in Year B. Writing to Christians who thought that the end was near, he insists that before that happe…

She has given her whole life: Following Jesus' encounter with a Scribe who accepts the centrality of the love commandment, Jesus attacks "the scribes" who pretend to be religious, but harm the poor o…

The first of all the commandments: On arrival in Jerusalem, Jesus meets opposition. These passages are not in the Lectionary, but they lead to Jesus' encounter with a Scribe. Acting as a lawyer, he s…

Leaving all, he followed him: The journey to Jerusalem is nearing its end, but as Jesus and the disciples climb from Jericho to Jerusalem, blind Bartimaeus abandons everything, comes to Jesus in fait…

Not to be served, but to serve: James and John, and the other ten members of "the Twelve" continue to misunderstand Jesus. They seek only places of honour and authority. Jesus calls them to the bapti…

What must I do?: A rich man's desire to know what he must do to inherit eternal life leads Jesus to love him and focus upon the only thing that is blocking his commitment to the way of Jesus - his ri…

From the beginning of creation: Tested by the Pharisees on his interpretation of divorce, approved by Jewish Law under certain conditions, Jesus abandons Law, and describes how God planned the relati…

To be for or against Jesus: The disciples continue to misunderstand their call to follow Jesus, as they tried to stop someone who was not following them. Jesus against corrects them, insisting on the…

Serving and receiving: Continuing his journey to Jerusalem, Jesus announces his forthcoming death and resurrection a second time. Again the disciples do not understand, and wonder about who will be t…

Who do you say that I am?: At the centre of Mark's Gospel, and after his recognition by the Gentiles, Jesus asks his disciples who they think he is. Peter's response, "You are the Christ" is only par…

A missionary journey into Gentile lands: Jesus sets out on a mission to Gentile lands. After healing the daughter of a Gentile woman, he journeys north and then east, always walking among Gentiles. O…

Observing human traditions: After four Sundays reflecting upon John 6, the Lectionary returns to the Gospel of Mark, but maintains its focus upon "eating." The leaders of Israel try to accuse Jesus a…