Right around this Sunday in the United States the Super Bowl takes place.  After months of competing, two teams that are at the top jump into one final game to determine who is the winner.  Fans on both sides are so excited, traveling to the place where thebig context will take place.

The Gospel of Mark is like God’s Super Bowl.  There are two teams: Good and Evil are contesting.  Sometimes, as in today’s Gospel, the forces of sickness and disease are pitted against the power of Jesus’ love to heal.  Jesus always wins out!  Like at the Super Bowl, the fans take joy and happiness to know that hearing and love win out over darkness and evil. The Devil is at work bringing sickness and death; Jesus brings life and peace.  Jesus is always the winner of God’s Super Bowl.

So breathe in God’s power of love and healing and let this power fall upon those you love. With our faith in Jesus, you are on the winner team!

Mark 1:21–28

Examples of Bible Breaths Learn More…

Astounded at Your teaching v. 22
You, the Holy One of God v. 24
Unclean spirits: out from me! v. 25
Your power spreads all about. v. 28

The Sunday Gospels follow the Revised Common Lectionary.
This being Year B, we are dedicated in this season to the Gospel of Mark.

These Firestarters are for families with children. For the Firestarters in the original edition, I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet! Check the menu options at the site for more information.

Events change and move very fast in the Exodus. After the Israelites cross the Red Sea, Moses leads the people in praise of God. Then the people start to complain: “There’s no water or food!”

How easy it is to forget the touch of God’s love with complaining! After the episode of grumbling about no water, God makes a promise: if there is in the people, a heart that listens and does what the Lord wants, then God will be Yahweh-Rapha, “The Lord Who Heals.” 15:26 has been called “The Old Testament Covenant of Diving Healing.” Return to it often in those moments that tempt you to complain. Greater than what bothers you is the Lord who promises to lead you through the “Red Sea” of suffering to freedom and wholeness.

Exodus 14:15—16:10

Examples of Bible Breaths Learn More…

The cloud of Your presence, Lord. 14: 20
The sea turned into dry land. 14: 21
Rescued from all Egyptians 14:30
Belief in Your awesome p’wer 14:31

The Saturday passages follow the reading list that Jewish people use in their synagogue worship
throughout the world. They are taken from
“The Torah,” the first five books of the Bible from Genesis to Deuteronomy
that are read each year beginning with autumn.

These Firestarters are for families with children. For the Firestarters in the original edition, I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet! Check the menu options at the site for more information.

That evening, at sunset, people brought to Jesus those who were sick or demon-possessed. ³³ 
The whole town gathered near the door.
Mark 1:32-33

Crowds often press anxiously against the front doors of stores waiting for them to open for some big sale that’s going on. Everyone longs to get the very best deal on clothing, electronics, or some other item that excites the crowd.

St. Mark tells us that crowds pressed around Jesus, longing not for some “thing” they think will make them happy, but for healing from diseases that threaten their lives.  One by one, Jesus places his loving hands on people and they are healed.  However, much more than the crowds pressing about Jesus, is Jesus himself coming near, pressing about and embracing hearts so that healing can happen for body, mind and spirit. 

Jesus used to pass long hours of the night in prayer.  When you wake up at night, breath in and out this prayer: “In the night I pray to You.”

Mark 1:32-45

Examples of Bible Breaths Learn More…

In the night, I pray to You. v. 35
I am searching for You, Lord. v. 37
Going on to other towns v. 38
Lord, You choose to make me clean. v. 40

Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels. This year, we generally read from the Gospel of Mark.

These Firestarters are for families with children. For the Firestarters in the original edition, I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet! Check the menu options at the site for more information.