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The Temple’s Rot—for Proper 28B
In the Little Apocalypse of Mark, we are invited to see the rot at the center of the Temple, when it would rather we be afraid.
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Talking About Devastation (Proper 28C)
In Temple destruction and community division, Jesus paints a frightening picture with the reminder to not fear it.
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Beyond a Temple
We hear Jesus talk about division and the destruction of the Temple with a sense of fear while he offers hope.
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Large
In this week’s gospel, the disciples are awed at the size of the Temple. It reminds me of moving to Boston from small-town Michigan and being surrounded by skyscrapers. The size inspires awe. So does the thought of how they were built. Jesus isn’t awed by it. Or, at least, he isn’t moved to be…
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This Thursday of Holy Week 2019
Watching Notre Dame, the echoes of Holy Week reverberated. The warning of the temple’s destruction, of course. But also the call to listen.
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Devouring Their Houses
Jesus doesn’t simply criticize the priests for their hubris, he exposes the whole system for its corruption, exploitation, and rejection of the poor. of poverty and hubris in the Temple Proper 27B | Mark 12:38-44 Less than a week after starting at my first congregation out of seminary, I went to my first clericus—a meeting of…
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Tearing Down the Temple
Jesus’s call for the end of faith as we know it Now, Jesus isn’t pushing us toward a churchless faith, a religionless spirituality, or independent devotion. Jesus doesn’t attack the institution because it is an institution but because the leadership of the existing institution is corrupt. Because how they understand scripture is corrupt. Because the…
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A Holy Wednesday: The Day of Anointing
According to the gospel we call Mark, today is the day Jesus is anointed by a woman. To us, she has no name. After Sunday’s dramatic rebuke of Rome, Monday’s trashing of the money-changers and dove-sellers, and Tuesday’s teaching at the Temple in which he humiliates and condemns the Temple leadership, Wednesday is a true…