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Illustration
Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A
Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
Leah Thompson
You can't please everyone, as they say. Teenagers: dress to impress your friends, and I guarantee your mother will not approve. Parents: buy only healthy food to please your doctor, and I'm sure your kids will have something to say about it. The seller wants higher prices, the buyer wants low. Cheap art reproductions are an easy way to spruce up your walls, but make real art lovers cringe. In the case of today's gospel: a messenger from God who fasts makes people think he's loony for not eating or drinking or having friends.
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Contents
“Breaking Jesus’ Heart” by John Sumwalt
“Wade In the Water” by Frank Ramirez


Breaking Jesus’ Heart
by John Sumwalt
Psalm 22:23-31

For he did not despise or abhor
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he did not hide his face from me,
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BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS

Lesson 1: Genesis 17:1--7, 15--16 (C)
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These verses from Mark's gospel are a call to commitment, a call to sacrifice, and a call to give up everything of earthly value in life. To say these are difficult verses is truly an understatement. It is pretty clear that the disciples are not at all ready for what Jesus is saying. They are not ready for Jesus to die and they certainly are not ready to die themselves.

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