At first sight, it may seem odd that the lectionary offers us a reading from Isaiah that is all about God the cosmic creator and giver of power, and then there is a reading from Mark’s gospel that includes the small scene of Jesus’ healing Simon Peter’s mother-in-law. How does the might, majesty, dominion, and…

“The fever left her, and she began to serve them.” Most of us are familiar with Lourdes, the Roman Catholic shrine in southern France at which the Blessed Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to a saintly young woman named Bernadette a century and a half ago. Pilgrims today continue to throng the shrine,…

What works best? Proclaiming the good news of salvation loudly so that as much of the world around one as possible can hear it? Or doing good works in quiet humility and letting one’s deeds speak for themselves? Today, some people take to the airwaves to let others know the good news of Jesus Christ….

Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. Well, there I am. You people have a saying about everyone having their 15 minutes of fame. This is mine. Right there in the Gospel written by that boy Mark. It doesn’t tell you my name, of course….