D-V's Desk

             Many years ago there was a game show called Identity, hosted by Gilette Penn.   The show featured 12 people, some celebrities and some everyday people.   For example, Stan Lee (Spider Man) and Peter Mayhew (Star Wars) were featured on episodes.   A contestant tried to guess the identity of each person.             Our Gospel reads like an episode of Identity.   Jesus begins by asking what the crowds, what the people, are saying about Him.   “Some say you are John the Baptist,” and “Others say you are Elijah” come the answers.   Jesus then zeroes in on the question, the BIG one, “what about YOU, who do YOU say that I am.”             This is the moment of truth.   Just like when Penn would ask “is that your identity?” after the contestant’s guess.   There would be a dramatic pause before t...

              What customs or traditions did you have growing up?   Traditions you’d like to pass on to the next generation?   In my family, the birthday person got to pick dinner, and what flavor cake and ice cream came for dessert.   On Christmas Eve, we got to pick out one present to open before we had milk and cookies before bedtime. Jesus and His usual adversaries, the Pharisees, debate over the tradition of washing hands, pots, and cups prior to eating.   The Pharisees ask Jesus’ followers why Jesus doesn’t uphold the customs.   Jesus responds by telling His followers that true cleanliness comes from the heart and not by rigid rule keeping. After all, what one puts in one’s mouth is later passed out of the body as waste.   What comes from the heart, from one’s thoughts and motives, one’s words and deeds, is more important than food and drink that is eventually eliminated.   What come...

  Snakes.                          Spiders. Speaking in public. A scary movie.             What makes you afraid?   What scares you the most?   I think the friends of Jesus can relate.   Today, they face their worst fears.   A huge storm on the Sea of Galilee.   And considering four of them are fishers, that is saying something.   The storm must be extraordinary to terrify four seasoned seafarers. The Sea of Galilee sits in a bowl between two mountains.   Pop up storms are common.   The disciples struggle against the heavy winds.   Their boat is being tossed and turned by the tempest.   Amid the storm, they see a lone figure walking towards them.   Between the winds and the vision, Jesus’ friends are terrified.      ...