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An old brain-teaser...

Illustration
Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A
Matthew 22:34-46
Leah Thompson
An old brain-teaser: "A man and his son are on a fishing trip when their boat capsizes. The son is injured. His father rushes him to the nearest hospital, where they are immediately admitted into the emergency room. Suddenly a doctor sprints into the room and runs to the child, crying 'My son! My son!' " How is this possible?

Jesus asks the Pharisees a similar question: Can the Messiah be the son of David -- the son of Man -- as well as God? The answer to our first brain-teaser is easy. The answer to Jesus' brain-teaser is not.
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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
    the affliction of the afflicted;
he did not hide his face from me,
    but heard when I cried to him. (Psalm 22:24)

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The next Barbie doll in line was instantly alert. There were five different Barbie dolls, who lived jumbled together in the toy cupboard but who were so jealous of each other that they rarely spoke. "Seen what?" asked the second Barbie doll, blue eyes darting all round the room.

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Theme For The Day: The road to God's kingdom is the way of obedience, suffering and death, the way of the cross. Christ calls us to take up our cross and follow him.


BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS

Lesson 1: Genesis 17:1--7, 15--16 (C)
John W. Clarke
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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