Ruminate This

The conclusion to the Gospel according to Mark, or at least one of them. The ending of Mark is so interesting and probably not what you think of when you think about resurrection stories.   As you hear the text, pay attention to how different it is from any of your preconceived notions about the resurrection story. And, pay attention to why Mark would end this story in such a way.   Mark's ending may seem abrupt, but there is an invitation as well...   Follow along here. 

There is a sense of finality in today's passage. At least if you were to hear this for the first time. Jesus has died. Now he is buried. There are witnesses to where he has been laid. That seems to be it.   Imagine reading this, rather hearing it read, for the very first time. Having been on an extensive journey with Jesus, and his disciples, it all comes to a dramatic end. The tomb is closed. That is it.   At least for today. I know you know the end of the story. But for today sit with this. Sit with the uncertainty, the finality, as if this were the first time you heard the story. Sit in solidarity with Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses. Sit with this...   Follow along here. 

Today's passage is heavy to say the least. From Simon carrying the cross for Jesus, to the crucifixion, and those who observed it.   There is a heaviness that comes with reading this passage. Pay attention to your feelings as you hear it. There are times to deeply investigate the words (some are in Aramaic), but today choose to move beyond the mind and allow the practice of Lectio Divina to ruminate in your soul.   Follow along here. 

Today's passage includes some pretty violent imagery. Violence can invoke various responses for people. Pay attention to not only what your think about this text, but also how it makes you feel. Allow your heart to take over as you sit with this text.    Follow along here.  

Today's passage moves us from entering into the humanity of Jesus, to the humanity of Peter. As you hear the text, I invite you to examine what feelings are associated with this passage. Move beyond just understanding with your head and engage, and pay attention to, your heart.   Follow along here. 

As we draw closer to the crucifixion, the suspense hightens. We continue to be drawn into the humanity of Jesus. As you hear today's passage, may your become more and more aware of the fullness of your humanity. We join our brother, Jesus, in the experience of the human condition.   Follow along here. 

Today's passage really highlights the humanity of Jesus. We are invited into his emotions, his struggle, the very essence of what it means to be human. This is a long passage, that covers a lot. Be sure to set aside time to experience the fullness of the text.   Follow along here.  

There is a lot going on in today's passage. Due to the length it is only read three times on the podcast, if you need another read of the text take the time to read it and really let it sit in. There is a lot going on here. If you need to take it in pieces, allow yourself the time and flexibility to do so.    Toward the end of this passage is the institution of the Lord's Supper. This Sunday, the majority of United Methodist Churches (and churches in many other denominations) will celebrate Holy Communion in their worship services. Allow today's reading to sit with you. May these words both form your understanding of the Lord's Supper and transform your experience of Holy Communion.    Follow along here. 

Today's Halloween edition includes some spooky stuff: ‘But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened,    and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven,    and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.   How is that for a Halloween lectio divina! Wherever you find yourself today, may you experience God amidst the spooky and the unsure. May you "keep awake" to all that God may teach you this day.   Follow along here. 

Today's reading comes from the 13th chapter of Mark. If you are unfamiliar with apocalyptic literature, this may be a really scary passage. There will probably be a lot of confusing passages, words, phrases, ideas.   You will probably also bring a lot of ideas to the passage: things you have read in other books, movies you have seen. Do your best to let the text speak for itself. Read chapter 13 as part of the greater whole of the story of Mark. Let Mark influence Mark.   If you are really struggling to understand this passage, check out a study Bible or a commentary to help you better understand what is going on here. Follow along here. 

Today's passage is very short. It is often referred to as the "Widow's Offering," and this, too, may be a familiar passage. As always, the danger of familiar passages is missing the meaning assuming we already know what it is about.  Listen with open ears and an open mind. Listen as though this is the first time you have heard this reading.   Lectio divina is a wonderful spiritual practice, and the hope of spiritual practices is both to connect you with God, but also to stretch you spiritually. A suggestion, since this is such a short passage, is to memorize this scripture. Scripture memorization is another spiritual practice that can be helpful and also challenge us. As you memorize it, allow the words to soak in, ruminate, and continue to transform you.   Rather than linking to the scripture, you can find it below: He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.’

Today's passage is long and it covers a whole lot. I hope you'll take the time to finish the practice, but make sure you give yourself ample time to do so.   There is a theme that emerges in today's text. The religious elites continue to question Jesus, they try to trap him, out smart him, get him to mess up. But time and again Jesus not only outwits the religious elites, he engages wisdom and invites them to move beyond their dualistic understanding of right and wrong. He invites them to encounter God in a new way, to reimagine the God they think they know.   May you too be invited to reimagine God as you hear the scripture for today.   Follow along here. 

Today's reading has another parable. There is incredible power in storytelling.  A story can convery layers, or levels, of truth in a way that direct answers cannot. I encourage you to sit with the parable from today. Pay attention to what it teaches at the surface level. Then pay attention to the next layer down, and the next, and the next.    Parables can be confusing and difficult to understand. They can also open you to a whole new understanding of yourself, of others, and of God. May that be true for you today. Follow along here. 

"By what authority are you doing these things?" This is the question posed to Jesus by the religious leaders of his day. The question of authority is one we still wrestle with today. One that causes a lot of division both within the church and beyond. Jesus responds to their question with a question of his own. This is a pretty standard response for Jesus. Rather than directly answering a question, he asks his own question(s). What might this tell us about how Jesus communicates, teaches, and/or his understanding of authority?    Follow along here. 

Today's text, like so much of the Gospel according to Mark, is layered. It appears the teaching of Jesus has a surface level understanding, and also countless layers of understanding below the surface.   As Jenny invites you to do, hear the text not just for information, but for formation. May you be informed, as well as transformed, by today's reading.   Follow along here. 

The passage for today is probably a familiar one for those who have grown up in the church. This Palm Sunday reading is a story we hear every year the Sunday before Easter, often accompanied by kids waving palm branches singing songs of "Hosanna!"   With passages we are familiar with it is often difficult to hear the words afresh and anew. As you hear these words, try to remove any preconceived notions you have about the story and hear it as if it were the first time.   May God speak something new and unique from what may be old and familiar.   Follow along here. 

"What do you want me to do for you?" What an interesting question Jesus poses in today's reading. It may seem obvious in the given context, but the question may take a little more work for you to be able to honestly answer it.  May this time of deep, intentional reading open you to a new self awareness of what your wants and your needs truly are. And may you honestly respond to Jesus' question.   Follow along here. 

Today, once again, we get an example of the disciples missing the point, or at least some of them.   You can imagine the disciples confusion when they hear their teacher, their leader, say, "The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve." The radical nature of Jesus' servant leadership changed their understanding of messiahship.   How easy it is to find ourselves in the same situations as the disciples. May the hearing of today's text challenge you, and inspire you, in your service to God's will being done, here and now.   Follow along here. 

Today's passage is long and talks about money. In fact it takes a pretty hard stance in regard to wealth and how difficult it will be for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God. Notice, it is not impossible, rather it is more difficult, a lot more difficult.    I hope the text from today will both challenge you, but also open your eyes to see the world as a child sees it. I have no doubt the Gospel writer was very intentional with the invitation to be more childlike right before he addressed the topic of wealth.    Follow along here. 

Warning: Today's reading brings up divorce.   Divorce is a difficult subject. Many have long lasting trauma associated with divorce. As you engage in a spiritual practice, such as lectio divina, the silence and intentional opening of yourself to God may open you to some deep rooted trauma. Be prepared to experience emotions that you thought you had already dealt with. Don't be afraid to reach out to a friend, a therapist, somebody you can share your experience with.   We often read scripture, or practice lectio divina alone (though it doesn't have to be alone), but we never have to stay alone. There are those out there who want to support you. Don't be afraid to reach out to the church if you need support.   Follow along here. 

A shorter passage today, but one that is filled with extreme imagery. Since the passage, and the podcast, are shorter, I encourage you to take a little extra time to read about these extreme images.   Self-mutilation is serious business, so why would Jesus use such language? Dr. Alyce McKenzie, from Perkins School of Theology in Dallas, TX states, "Obviously, no one is a biblical literalist. Otherwise there would be a lot more people with one eye, one hand, or one foot. While we don't take these sayings literally, we are to take them seriously."   Take some time to read Dr. McKenzie's commentary on this passage. It might open you to a whole new understanding of the text.   Follow along here.  

Today's passage from the Gospel according to Mark invites us to consider who we welcome, who we place into categories of us/them, we make the other and don't view as worthy. We may do this unintentionally, yet all too often we do it.   May today's reading create an awareness, so you may overcome the many ways we dehumanize one another. May you be compassionate with yourself, then with others as well.   Follow along here.

"I believe, help my unbelief." Possibly one of the most beautiful, and honest, prayers/pleads in the Bible.   Whatever word, or phrase, sticks out to you, may you find comfort in the paradoxical faith presented by the boys' father in today's reading. May his prayer become your prayer, no matter what adversity you are facing today.   Follow along here. 

Today's lectio passage is the story of the transfiguration. If you have never heard this story it may sound a bit strange. If it is fresh to you, then you may resonate well with Peter's response.    As you spend time ruminating on the text for today, may God open your eye, ears, heart, and mind to a new understanding of scripture, and of reality.   Follow along here.

Today's passage is a pivot point for the Gospel according to Mark. We are halfway through, and at the halfway point Peter makes the proclamation...   "You are the Messiah."   It seems to go kind of down hill after that, but this is a really important proclamation in the context of this story. As you contemplate these words of scripture, may you too be moved to make bold proclamations.   Follow along here. 

Today's passage is a long one and a whole lot happens. Because the passage is so long, take time to read it a fourth time, on your own, if you need more time or another opportunity to fully process all that takes place in this text.    Bread plays a clear role in today's passage. This past Sunday was World Communion Sunday, what connections do you see between communion and the role bread plays in this passage?   The two step process of healing the blind man is a bit of an odd story. What might the "truth behind the truth," be communicating in the context of this passage?   As you wrestle with today's text, may God enlighten you to a new understanding, both of the text, and of yourself. Follow along here. 

Today's text is both challenging and gritty. This is one of the most problematic texts found in the Gospel according to Mark, yet also what gives us the deepest look into the humanity of Jesus.    Not only does he compare a woman to a dog, he also is persuaded by this woman and changes his mind. Then, he gets very personal with a deaf man. There is incredible power in the physical touch that is expressed in this story, strange as it may be, it speaks to the intimacy between Jesus and other humans in this story.   What do you find troubling in this passage? What is freeing to you? May God both challenge you and call you to action through the hearing of today's text. Follow along here. 

In today's passage Jesus continues to challenge the status quo of the religious practices of his day. It would be easy to think Jesus is attempting to move his followers away from the traditional Jewish practices, but it is important to remember Jesus was Jewish, a Jewish rabbi at that, and he never gave up being Jewish.   With that in mind, why would Jesus challenge the religious traditions? What might he be inviting his followers, and all who listened, to examine?    Today's passage invites us to take a deeper look at our hearts. This can be difficult, and emotionally draining work. I encourage you to find the support you need as you examine your own heart. Reach out to a pastor, a friend, or a therapist. You are not in this alone!   Follow along here. 

In today's text we find another encounter of Jesus debating with the Pharisees. This time tradition is the subject of their debate. Jesus appears to hold scripture against tradition, all the while using wisdom to interpret them both.    In what ways do you value scripture as your guiding principle(s)? Tradition? Wisdom? What happens when one seems to contradict the other? What takes precedent in such occasions?    Notice what started the debate: a question over dirty hands. How does that influence your understanding of this story?   Follow along here.

We encounter another miraculous experience with Jesus in today's text. Jesus seems to be on a casual stroll, out on the lake, when the disciples see him and are terrified... rightly so.   What does this miracle convey to you, the hearer, today? From feeding 5,000 men (plus others with them), to walking on water, what is the author communicating about Jesus? about the disciples? to you? Spend some time contemplating the truth of this story, then the truth behind the truth.   Follow along here. 

The feeding of the 5,000. A very common story, probably one you have heard numerous times.   As you listen today, pay attention to the details. What is the context of such a miraculous story? What message is God speaking to you through today's text? What might God be calling you to do, today? Who is God asking you to feed (literally or metaphorically)?   May God bless the reading and hearing of these words. You can follow along here.

Today is a tough passage. It deals with weird family intermarrying, death - but not just any death, a beheading at the request of a young girl. This may seem like a difficult passage to sit with as you practice lectio divina.    However, it is often in the strange and in the unexpected that God shows up most to us. So may it be so. May God speak to you in the midst of this difficult text for today, Monday September 30.   Follow along here. 

Today's passage is a shorter one. Take the extra time to sit in contemplation. Notice that by the end of the passage the disciples are doing the same work Jesus was doing.    As you hear these words, may you ruminate on what it means to be Christ-like today, September 27, 2019.   Follow along here. 

September 26, 2019... what prophetic word is God asking you to speak?   A prophet is not a fortune teller. Not somebody who looks into the future. A prophet speaks truth, typically truth to power. If you want a good definition of a prophet, Walter Brueggemann defines it well here.   May you be open to the prophetic word God has for you this day, and may you be bold enough to share it.   Follow today's reading here.       

The text for today, September 25, is a bit longer. It is only read three times, so if you need that fourth reading to continue to wrestle with, be inspired by, or in conversation with the text, take the time!    The text today has a lot to teach us about our bodies. How we (de)value our bodies. The value of embodiment. The power of a simple touch. May you come to value your body as you hear these words of scripture.   Follow along here. 

The passage for today, September 24, is a bit of a haunting text. It is kind of gruesome and there seems to be a lot going on under the surface. Who is this Legion? Why pigs? Why does Jesus barter with unclean spirits?   As you hear these words of scripture today, may your interest be peaked, as God speaks a new word to you.   Follow along here. 

Today, September 23, we look at the end of Mark chapter 4. Today's passage is a transition passage. Jesus, and his followers, are moving across the sea. They are moving from the Jewish side of the Sea of Galilee to the more Gentile side. A move that probably invoked some uncertainty, and some fear among his followers.    As you hear these words today, may you open your ears to hear anew that which God might be telling you. Maybe you too are going across to the other side, you have some uncertainty, have some fear, maybe even chaos, may God inspire you by these words.   Follow along here. 

Today's reading speaks of the Kingdom of God. Jesus explains the Kingdom of God again using parables. If you have questions, struggle to understand the meaning, and/or want to know more about the Kingdom of God, I suggest this quick read.   May your understanding of God and this text grow as you hear today's divine reading.   Follow along here. 

Today's reading includes a parable, quite possibly one of the best known parables. Often when we read (or hear) passages of scripture we have heard many times, we fail to actually listen to the passage. As you hear this parable read to you today, hear it as though it is the first time you have ever heard it.    Teaching in parables was a common, and it seems preferred, way of teaching for Jesus. Parables typically are told in such a way that the beginning of the parable is common knowledge, but, more often than not, the ending is not what you expect. Said differently, the beginning of a parable depends on the contextually modern idea of conventional wisdom, but the ending turns the story upside down, often disrupting and disturbing the status quo. Parables can be hard to understand as we don't always fully understand the context. If you are looking for a resource to better understand parables, I suggest this book.    May you hear these words anew, and may God teach you anew as you hear these words in today's divine reading.   Follow along here. 

Today's reading talks a lot of unity and division. It also uses names like Beelzebul and Satan, names that have a lot of historical and contextual value for understanding the passage. I highly recommend a good study Bible (you can find many great options here, though this is one of my favorites) if you feel you need a little additional help understanding who these characters are and what role they play in the story.    May God speak to you through the reading of these sacred scriptures.   Follow along here. 

Day 7 moves us into chapter 3 of the Gospel According to Mark. A variety of things take place in this passage. As you listen to the text over and over, pay attention if the same message resonates with you through each reading, or if you hear something new, a different question or call, each time you hear it. Follow along here. 

We kick off week two with a shorter reading. Since it is shorter, take a couple extra minutes after the podcast to sit and reflect on the text.  If possible, find a space free of interruptions. Some place you can be fully present and open to God speaking through these words of scripture.  "The sabbath was made for humankind, not humankind for the sabbath." What does that mean for you, today? Follow along here. 

Rev. Phil Dieke wraps up our first week of divine readings. Check back on Monday when we will begin week 2, by continuing in Mark 2. As you prepare for today's reading, find a space where you can be comfortable in your body, and present to your surroundings. May God move through the reading of these words. Follow along here. 

Rev. Elizabeth Moseley leads us through day 4's reading. Find a comfortable place to center yourself for today's divine reading. As always, if you're driving, safety first.  Follow along here. 

Tim Clifford leads us through day 3's reading from the Gospel According to Mark.  Follow along here.  Find a comfortable place to experience today's scripture, but if you're driving, safety first!

Jenny Misslin leads us through day 2 of the companion podcast to the scripture reading plan at Highland Park United Methodist Church. You can read along here.  Happy, holy reading!

Day 1 of the companion podcast to the HPUMC Bible reading plan.   Read along here. 

September 9, 2019 Highland Park United Methodist Church will begin a church wide Bible reading plan of the Gospel of Mark. Monday through Friday, you are invited to read a portion of Mark, and this podcast offers you the opportunity to enter into a "divine reading" of the text. Lectio Divina is a spiritual discipline, or spiritual practice, of divine reading. It is an opportunity to hear the text multiple times, allowing you to engage the text not only with your mind, but with the fullness of your being. You hear it, you hear it again, and all the while your ruminate on it.  Today's episode is an introduction to the series. We talk about why we chose lectio divina, why we chose the title "Ruminate This," and why we believe this will be a beneficial spiritual practice for you. Blessings to you as you journey this spiritual practice.