Drew Downs

Make a New Normal

Temple

  • 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.

  • In Temple destruction and community division, Jesus paints a frightening picture with the reminder to not fear it.

  • We hear Jesus talk about division and the destruction of the Temple with a sense of fear while he offers hope.

  • 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…

  • Watching Notre Dame, the echoes of Holy Week reverberated. The warning of the temple’s destruction, of course. But also the call to listen.

  • 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…