As we have worked our way through the beginning of Mark’s gospel this Epiphany season, we have seen the explosive growth in Jesus’ ministry. In today’s gospel his popularity has hit such a peak that the people can no longer gather close enough around him even to hear what he has to say. The word…

The thought of an all-knowing God can be quite disturbing. If we really took seriously the words with which we begin each Eucharist, we might rush for the door: “Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid.” There’s a story told of an Irish priest…

Steve and Annie Chapman sing a song that includes these lines: They took that man to Jesus;He had no faith of his own,But when Jesus saw the faith of a few good friends,He said, “Take up your bed, take up your bed and go home. The faith of a few good friends. Let’s look for…