The Bible as Literature

Latest Episodes:

Preaching With Authority Aug 10, 2017

Show notes

When we criticize others on the basis of personal experience or opinion, this criticism exposes our blindness to the truth of our own sins. In Mark, whether they realize it or not, the chief priests, the scribes and the elders question the authority of Jesus exactly because their own authority is questionable. They challenge Jesus—not because they look to God’s teaching as the only authority—but because they want to protect their own power and prestige. But these men were no match for Jesus; not because he was more clever or powerful, and not because he had the people on his side. On the contrary, their maneuver failed because throughout Mark, when Jesus speaks, he never gives his own opinion. His authority comes directly from his Father’s teaching, of which—for all their religious bluster—the leaders in Jerusalem seem to know very little. Unlike the chief priests, the scribes and the elders, when Jesus speaks, he criticizes strictly on the basis of Torah. This type of criticism exposes the blindness and sinfulness of everyone. At the same time, it ruthlessly subverts the power of the one who proclaims it—something to keep in mind as the narrative picks up its pace en route to Gol'gotha. Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Mark 11:27-33.

Episode 186 Mark 11:27-33; Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature; “Hackbeat” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com (http://incompetech.com/)) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http:// creativecommons .org/ licenses /by/3.0/

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Read the Signs Aug 03, 2017

Show notes

Everybody sees signs. I'm not talking about street signs. I mean the things we see in life. We look at a withering tree, a flock of birds, or we experience something—painful or joyous—and we assign meaning. That’s how human beings make sense of the world. That’s why grown men put their socks on the same way before every baseball game. They assign meaning to something mundane and suddenly a pair of old socks hold power. But that's the problem. Insofar as the meaning we assign comes from the human heart, it can't help but be selfish. I mean, let's be serious, do you really believe that God (or your magical god of baseball stockings) cares about the outcome of your silly baseball game? At the same time, who has ever seen or heard of a baseball player who understands his locker room ritual as sign that we have neglected the poor or a warning that we have not obeyed God's teaching? Who among us sees a joyous sign as a stern reminder of duty, or a painful sign as a reminder of the Lord's mercy? As our friend St. Mark is wont to remind us, only those who have ears to hear. Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Mark 11:19-26.

Episode 185 Mark 11:19-26; Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature; “Poppers and Prosecco” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com (http://incompetech.com/)) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http:// creativecommons .org/ licenses /by/3.0/

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Nothing But Leaves Jul 27, 2017

Show notes

Imagine the following. A teacher walks into class to announce the final exam: “If you do well on the test,” she explains, “it is not because of you. You are clueless. If you happen to do well, it is because I am an awesome teacher, so please do not expect a good grade. Just be thankful that I let you attend class in the first place.” She continues, “If you do poorly on the test, please be advised, it is your fault. I am an awesome teacher. As such, you have absolutely no excuse for your failure.” Finally, she concludes, “If you do very well, I may still decide to fail you. You better believe me, and you had better not mess with me, because, once again (for effect) I am an awesome teacher, and I have said so.”

It should be noted that the results of this test will determine whether or not you graduate. So you have to attend class; you have to work hard and study; but you get no credit and there are no guarantees. Being saved by grace doesn’t sound so fluffy anymore, does it? Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Mark 11:12-18.

Episode 184 Mark 11:12-18; Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature; “Fig Leaf Times Two” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com (http://incompetech.com/)) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http:// creativecommons .org/ licenses /by/3.0/

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The Boss of Me Jul 20, 2017

Show notes

No one likes being told what to do. We dislike it so much that we have come to idolize rebellion as a moral good. We long for a world without authority, criticism or the pressure necessary to change how we live. When a teacher rightly judges our child, we shelter the student and malign the instructor. When our manager confronts us with a problem at work, we cringe, scrambling to show that we have already learned our lesson. Why? Because we want the criticism to stop; but a wise manager does not stop. He or she delivers the message in full, repeating it as often as necessary to help the employee change their behavior. But in order for any of this to work, the teacher, the parent, the student, the manager, and the employee must all–first and foremost–place their trust in the wisdom being offered.

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is tireless in his efforts to train the disciples to trust in the Lord’s wisdom. He does not reason with them or attempt to justify himself; nor does try to package the message in an appealing way. On the contrary, he keeps repeating and simultaneously following his Father’s commandments. The more resistance he encounters, the more persistent his message: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Hear, my son, your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching; Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head and ornaments about your neck.” (Proverbs 1:7-8) Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Mark 11:1-11.

Episode 183 Mark 11:1-11; Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature; “Pinball Spring” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com (http://incompetech.com/)) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http:// creativecommons .org/ licenses /by/3.0/

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Blind Trust Jul 13, 2017

Show notes

In all aspects of life, human beings would rather exercise control than risk placing trust. We treat relationships like business deals, as though marriage, family, community, and friendship are all quid pro quo, and we establish rules and policies to control these relationships. When we follow these rules and others do not, we act offended. As victims, we gain to power to accuse, influence, and control others. Worse, we do the same in our dealings with God. In the Gospel of Mark, we ask: “What must I do to inherit eternal life,” or, Lord, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” We refuse to trust in the Lord; and what we lack in commitment to his cause is replaced by self-assuredness. We distort his teaching, bending and twisting it to look like one of our lame rules. Then we place our trust in the rules that we fashion with own hands. To our own peril, we ignore the wisdom of Ray Henderson: “the best things in life are free.” Give us a word, O Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus. Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Mark 10:46-52.

Episode 182 Mark 10:46-52; Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature; “Wallpaper” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com (http://incompetech.com/)) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http:// creativecommons .org/ licenses /by/3.0/

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Wisdom Bears Repeating Jul 06, 2017

Show notes

Whether by instinct or experience, our minds construct a subjective model of the world around us in order to ensure our survival. In terms of risk mitigation, this system is efficient and effective. For example, if a loud noise in the dark resembles your idea of an approaching bus, even if it turns out to be something else, it is safer to assume the worst, so you step back onto the sidewalk. But what happens when our personal truths come into conflict with the common good? What if it is necessary to risk being on the road despite the perceived danger of an approaching bus? Language provides both the map and the lifeline that transcend personal truth to facilitate shared meaning.

Words allow a third party to challenge your map of reality. Even as you jump to safety, someone shouts, “child!” At first, your personal truth fights against this word, because your body has evolved to seek safety. Again, someone repeats the message, “my child is on the road!” Suddenly, their words break through your perceptions, changing your understanding of reality. Against every instinct, you step in front of the (assumed) bus to save the child.

Words bridge the immense chasm between our egos to create community. Words are the chief instrument of love. Words make wisdom possible. In the face of many personal realities and an ocean of competing words, the Word of God’s wisdom bears constant repetition. Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Mark 10:32-44.

Episode 181 Mark 10:32-44; Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature; “Skye Cuillin” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com (http://incompetech.com/)) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http:// creativecommons .org/ licenses /by/3.0/

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True Wisdom is Painful Jun 29, 2017

Show notes

Let me share a few quotes with you:

"Nothing is more fallacious than wealth. It is a hostile comrade, a domestic enemy." "Our money belongs to God, no matter how we have gathered it." "The love of money leaves everything corrupted and in ruin."

"The love of money is a dreadful thing; It disables both eyes and ears, and makes men worse to deal with than a wild beast, causing a person to consider neither conscience, nor friendship, nor fellowship, nor salvation."

"How long shall we love riches? For I shall not cease exclaiming against them: for they are the cause of all evils."

"Do not leave money to your children, instead, bequeath wisdom and knowledge. For if they are taught to expect money, they will disregard everything else and their abundant wealth will provide a way to mask their wickedness."

"A rich man is not someone who possesses much, but who gives much." "This is true wealth: not to have riches, but to not want riches."

"Teach children to love true wisdom and they will possess wealth and glory such that money cannot provide. If a child learns a trade, or is highly educated for a lucrative profession, it is nothing compared to the art of detachment from money. If you want to make your child wealthy, teach him that the one who is truly rich does not desire great possessions, or surround himself with wealth."

These words, a small sample taken from thousands of exegetical quotes by St. John Chrysostom, proclaim the teaching of Jesus Christ in the Gospel of Mark: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Mark 10:23-31.

Episode 180 Mark 10:23-31; Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature; “The Pyre” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com (http://incompetech.com/)) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http:// creativecommons .org/ licenses /by/3.0/

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God is the Possessor Jun 22, 2017

Show notes

In popular culture, when someone says, “don’t judge” or “who are you to judge,” what they mean is, “how dare you criticize me?” This common adulteration undermines the commandment’s original purpose, namely, to invalidate and supplant human opinion (whether critical or complimentary) with a written text:

“But to me,” St. Paul writes, “it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 4:3-4)

In 1 Corinthians, Paul warns againt passing judgment on anyone–even oneself–in order to emphazise the primacy of the written gospel:

“So that in us,” Paul continues, “you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other.” (1 Corinthians 4:6)

If not even Paul will judge himself before the time, how dare any man give his opinion of Jesus Christ? Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Mark 10:17-22.

Episode 179 Mark 10:17-22; Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature; “Basic Implosion” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com (http://incompetech.com/)) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http:// creativecommons .org/ licenses /by/3.0/

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Suffer the Kingdom Jun 15, 2017

Show notes

The disciples in Mark's gospel struggle to understand the Bible because they refuse to surrender their ideas to it. They approach Jesus with preconceived notions—of God, his Kingdom and his Messiah—that breakdown whenever Jesus speaks or takes action. The same is true of us. We approach Mark's gospel with our ideas of its meaning and its symbols, only to flounder when our idols are smashed against the brick wall of the text. For example, what does the commandment, “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God,” actually mean? I'm willing to bet that you think you know exactly what it means, and that's why you still don't get it. Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Mark 10:13-16.

Episode 178 Mark 10:13-16; Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature; “Royal Banana” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com (http://incompetech.com/)) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http:// creativecommons .org/ licenses /by/3.0/

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What Does the Law Say? Jun 08, 2017

Show notes

Much of what passes for religious debate is driven by a desire to be pure or to be right. A lawyer approaches Jesus to make sure he knows how to follow the Law, so that he can be right. A rich man approaches Jesus seeking the best of both worlds—he wants to be right and keep his money. When we believe that we are right or good because we have followed the Law, we look down upon those who have not achieved the purity we imagine of ourselves. That's why the Pharisees try to trap Jesus with a question about divorce. The Lord's response to the Pharisees echoes the teaching of 1 Corinthians: you are puffed up because you think you have mastered the Law; why, then, is your “wise” teaching dividing the household? Who is worse, the victim of divorce, or the false teachers who cause it? Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Mark 10:1-12.

Episode 177 Mark 10:1-12; Subscribe: http://feedpress.me/the-bible-as-literature; “Ave Marimba” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http:// creativecommons .org/ licenses /by/3.0/

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