NO ONE HAS EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS TO JESUS The scene is surprising. The disciples come up to Jesus with a problem. This time, the spokesperson of the group isn’t Peter, but John, one of the two brothers who seek the top positions. Now he wants the group of disciples to have the sole rights

WHY DO WE FORGET IT? On the road to Jerusalem, Jesus keeps instructing his disciples about what to expect at the end. He insists once more that he will be handed over to men and these will kill him, but God will raise him up. Mark says that «they did not understand what he said and we

TAKING JESUS SERIOUSLY The episode of Caesarea Philippi occupies a central place in Mark’s Gospel. After some time living with him, Jesus asks his disciples a decisive question: «Who do you say I am?». Answering for them all, Peter says without hesitation: «You are the Christ». Finall

TO HEAL DEAFNESS The healing of a deaf-mute in the pagan region of Sidon is told by Mark with a clearly pedagogical intention. The man has a special sickness. He can neither hear nor talk. He lives closed in on himself, not communicating to anyone. He doesn’t know that Jesus is passin

GOD’S COMPLAINT A group of Pharisees from Galilee approach Jesus with a critical attitude. They don’t come alone. They’re accompanied by some Scribes from Jerusalem, undoubtedly concerned with defending the orthodoxy of the simple villagers of the countryside. Jesus’ activity is dange

A DECISIVE QUESTION The Gospel of John has preserved the story of a powerful crisis among Jesus’ followers. We only just have facts. It only tells us that the disciples find Jesus’ way of speaking harsh. Probably the acceptance he asks of them seems excessive. At one point, «many of h

FEED ON JESUS According to John’s story, once more the Jews are unable to go past the physical and material, and interrupt Jesus, scandalized by the aggressive language he’s using: «How can this man give us his flesh to eat?». Jesus doesn’t take back his affirmation, but gives his wor

ATTRACTED BY THE FATHER TOWARD JESUS According to John’s story, Jesus repeats each time more openly that he comes from God to offer everyone a food that gives life eternal. The people can’t keep listening to something so scandalous without reacting. They know his parents. How can he s

BREAD OF ETERNAL LIFE Why does Jesus hold our interest after 20 centuries? What can we expect of him? What can he give to support men and women of our time? Is he perhaps going to solve the problems of today’s world? The Gospel of John speaks of a very interesting dialogue that Jesus

A YOUNG MAN’S DEED Of all the things done by Jesus during his prophetic activity, the most remembered by the first Christian communities was surely a huge meal organized by him out in the countryside, near the lake of Galilee. It’s the only story recounted in all the Gospels. The cont