Sunday after the Exaltation of the Cross In today’s Gospel lesson, Jesus says that if someone wants to follow him, that person must forget themselves, take up their cross, and follow him. The cross, at the time of Jesus, was
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Embracing the Shameful Cross
The Lunatic and Faith
10th Sunday of Matthew Last week, we saw Peter fail his “test of faith.” This week, we see the disciples fail. A “moon-struck” man is brought to Jesus only because the disciples couldn’t heal him. By a word, Jesus heals
Read moreA Storm of “Trust”
9th Sunday of Matthew Over the past few Sundays, we’ve seen how the gospel is good news for everyone, of every background. Then, last week, we saw how the disciples are tasked with “feeding” the people with “spiritual bread,” that
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8th Sunday of Matthew Today’s Gospel message finds Jesus in the desert with a large crowd of people, who are hungry. But this doesn’t stop Jesus from making this desert a “garden full of food.” After asking his disciples to
Read moreBlindly Come Together
7th Sunday of Matthew In today’s gospel lesson, Jesus encounters two blind men who ask for his mercy. As we saw, from the last two Sundays, Jesus is making it a point to show that God’s community and mercy is
Read moreLearning to Walk
6th Sunday of Matthew In this week’s passage, Jesus returns to his own city. As soon as he arrives, a paralytic man is brought to him to be healed. But Jesus doesn’t say, “Be well.” Instead, on account of their
Read moreLet My Pigs Go!
5th Sunday of Matthew The setting for today’s passage is the land of the Gadarenes, a clear indication that Jesus is in foreign territory—a sign that his ministry now reaches out to the nations. And, to no one’s surprise, he
Read moreTo Shine Forth!
Sunday of the Fathers of the Fourth Ecumenical Council Today’s reading has a simple message: let your light shine before everyone. But the real question is, what is this “light” that is supposed to shine? Since this passage comes right
Read moreBecoming Worry Free
Third Sunday of Matthew On the surface, today’s passage seems like feel-good advice: don’t worry, God is in charge. This is true, but there’s so much more happening here. We are freed from our worries and anxieties, not to live
Read moreFrom Learning to Teaching
Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles The context for this passage is the pity that Jesus has for his people. Their leaders have not fed them with God’s word, so Jesus turns his own students (the disciples) into apostles—ones who are
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