Scripture/Homily Reflection

“Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” (Mark 10.9)

 

If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off… (Mark 9.45)

 

Jesus sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9.35)

 

Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”…Jesus asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” (Mark 8.27,29)

 

Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. (Mark 7. 34-35)

 

Then Jesus called the crowd and again said to them, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile them, but the things that come out of a person are what defile them… (Mark 7.14-15)

 

So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life… (John 6.67-68)

“Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you….” (John 6.54)

 

The people began to complain about Jesus because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”…Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life… (John 6.41-47)

 

For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world…”Sir, give us this bread always.” (John 6.33-34)

 

Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. (John 6.11)

 

The Apostles returned from their mission. They gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught… (Mark 6.30)

 

Jesus called the twelve and began to send them out two by two… (Mark 6.7)

 

And Jesus could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them…Then we went about among the villages teaching. Mark 6.5-6

 

Jesus said to her, “Daughter your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” (Mark 5.34)

 

He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. (Mark 4.39)

 

“The kingdom of God is as if a man would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, without his knowing how.” (Mark 4.26-27)

 

“How can Satan cast our Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand…And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come… (Mark 3.23-25)

 

“Take; this is my Body… Drink; this is my Blood.” (Mark 14.22-23)

 

Jesus appeared to the eleven, and he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation…” (Mark 16.15)

 

Jesus said to the disciples: “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf…” (John 15.26)

 

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit… (Matthew 28.19)

 

“As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.” (John 15.9)

 

I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in them bears much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15.5)

 

Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10.11)

 

He [Jesus] said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?” (Luke 24.38)

 

“Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” (John 20.22-23)

 

Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” (John 20.15)

 

Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet not what I want, but what you want. (Mark 14.36)

 

“Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” (John 12.21)

 

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” (John 3.16)

 

Jesus told [them]…”Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” (John 2.16)

 

Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” (Mark 9.7)

 

After Jesus was baptized the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the Angels waited on him. (Mark 1.12-13)

 

Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware of practising your piety before people in order to be seen by them…your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6.1-18)

 

Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I do choose. Be made clean!” Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. (Mark 1.41-42)

 

“Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.” (Mark 1.30-31)

 

They were all amazed, and they kept asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching – with authority!...” (Mark 1.27)

 

After John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” (Mark 1.14-15)

 

He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying and they remained with him that day… (John 1.39)

 

“When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and pay him homage…” (Matthew 2.10-11)

 

“But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart…” (Luke 2.19)

 

“When Mary and Joseph had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him.” (Luke 2.39-40)

 

“…the Angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see – I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Christ, the Lord…” (Luke 2.10-11)

 

Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1.38)

 

This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, "I am not the Messiah." (John 1.19-20)

 

As it is written in the Prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’” (Mark 1.2-3)

 

Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come…keep awake – for you do not know when the master of the house will come…keep awake.” (Mark 13.33-37)

 

Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the Angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him…" (Matthew 25.31-32)

 

‘Well done, good and trustworthy slaves…enter into the joy of your master.’ (Matthew 25.21)

 

Jesus spoke this parable to the disciples: “The kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise… (Matthew 25.1-2)

 

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples… "do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach…" (Matthew 23.1-3)

 

"Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.” (Matthew 5.12a)

 

Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ (Matthew 22.37-39)

 

“Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (Matthew 22:21)

 

The kingdom of heaven may be compared a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son...invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet. (Matthew 22.1-14)

 

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people:... There was a landowner who planted a vineyard... Then he leased it to tenants...When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce... (Matthew 21.33-43)

 

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: “What do you think?…. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” (Matthew 21.28-31)

 

“The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard…he went out about nine o’clock…he went out again about noon and about three o’clock…and about five o’clock…” (Matthew 20.1-16)

 

Peter came and said to Jesus, “Lord, how often should I forgive my brother or sister if they sin against me? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18.21-22)

 

Jesus spoke to his disciples, “If your brother or sister sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If he or she listens to you, you have regained your brother or sister… (Matthew 18:15)

 

…Let both of them grow together until the harvest… (Matthew 13:30)

 

Then the disciples came and asked Jesus, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" He answered, "To you, it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven but to them, it has not been given..." (Matthew 13:10-11)

 

“Come to me, all that you are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest…” (Matthew 11:28)

 

Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 10:39)

 

"…do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows." (Matthew 10:31)

 

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9.37-38)

 

Jesus said to the people: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will forever; the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” (John 6:51)

 

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you." (2 Cor 13.12-13)

 

…When he has said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sings of any, they are retained.” (John 20:22-23)

 

Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:9-20)

 

Jesus said to his disciples: "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever..." (John 14:15-16)

 

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. (John 14:3)

 

“The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep…and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out…and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.” (John 10:2-4)

 

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him… (Luke 24.30-31)

 

After eight days his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." (John 20:26)

 

Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and she told them that he had said these things to her. (John 20:18)

 

“The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Matthew 26:14 – 27:66)

 

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life whoever believes in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)

 

Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him…As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:3-5)

 

“…the one who drinks of the water that I will give will never be thirsty. The water I will give him will become in him a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” (John 4.13-14)

 

But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” (Matthew 17:7)

 

“Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” (Matthew 4:1)

 

"Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return."