Year of the Bible
Mark 10
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Commentary on the Gospel According to St. Mark, Chapter 10:
Jesus leaves Galilee and heads definitively south, to a new region, Judea. Crowds continue to flock to Jesus for his teaching (vs. 1). Yet rather than being taught, Pharisees want to test him on his interpretations of Torah Law (vs. 2). Jesus answers questions of interpretation of one part of the Scriptures (the Law), by turning to other sections of Scripture, i.e. the Book of Genesis (vs. 6)--which is still the Church’s method today (see CCC para. 111-114). As Jesus seeks to continue his travel heading toward Jerusalem (vs. 17, 32, 46), each interaction reveals elements of what it means to be a disciple. Being Jesus’ disciple is not impossible (vs. 27, 29, 45), but it is surprisingly countercultural (vs. 17, 23, 31). Yet, every person in Mark’s Gospel who desires in faith to “see” Jesus (8:22-26, 9:1), receives a “yes” (vs. 51-52), for Jesus came to “serve, and to give his life...for many” (vs. 45).
The Gospel According to St. Mark, Chapter 10:
Teachings about Divorce
1 And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again; and again, as his custom was, he taught them.
2 And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3 He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” 4 They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to put her away.” 5 But Jesus said to them, “For your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. 6 But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ 7 ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. 9 What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder.”
10 And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. 11 And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, commits adultery against her; 12 and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”
Jesus Blesses the Children
13 And they were bringing children to him, that he might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it he was indignant, and said to them, “Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” 16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands upon them.
The Rich Man
17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’ ” 20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth.” 21 And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 At that saying his countenance fell, and he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.
23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 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.” 26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.” 28 Peter began to say to him, “Be hold, we have left everything and followed you.” 29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many that are first will be last, and the last first.”
A Third Time Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection
32 And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the Twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, 33 saying, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles; 34 and they will mock him, and spit upon him, and scourge him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise.”
The Request of James and John
35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him, and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36 And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” 37 And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the chalice that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” 39 And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The chalice that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. 42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Bartimaeus Receives His Sight
46 And they came to Jericho; and as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great multitude, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; rise, he is calling you.” 50 And throwing off his cloak he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Master, let me receive my sight.” 52 And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.
*Daily Lectio Divina Question:
Among the various scenes in this chapter of Mark, which one is catching your attention? Ponder a bit more on what exactly is drawing your attention...a challenge or conviction from God, an encouragement or word of hope?...
Biblical Commentary provided by the Catholic Biblical School of Michigan, an adult faith formation apostolate. cbsmich.org/join
Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006).
Permission to use the RSV-2CE given for Bishop's Year of the Bible by Ignatius Press. Many thanks to Ignatius for this.
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Marcos 10
1 Saliendo de allí llegó a la región de
Judea, al otro lado del Jordán, y de
nuevo se congregó ante él la multitud. Y,
como era también su costumbre, se puso a
enseñarles.
2 Se acercaron entonces unos fariseos
que le preguntaban, para tentarle,
si le es lícito al marido repudiar a su
mujer. 3 Él les respondió:
–¿Qué os mandó Moisés?
4 –Moisés permitió darle escrito el libelo
de repudio y despedirla –dijeron
ellos.
5 Pero Jesús les dijo:
–Por la dureza de vuestro corazón
os escribió este precepto. 6 Pero en el
principio de la creación los hizo hombre
y mujer. 7 Por eso dejará el hombre a su
padre y a su madre y se unirá a su mujer,
8 y serán los dos una sola carne. De modo
que ya no son dos, sino una sola carne.
9 Por tanto, lo que Dios ha unido, que no
lo separe el hombre.
10 Una vez en la casa, sus discípulos
volvieron a preguntarle sobre esto.
11 Y les dijo:
–Cualquiera que repudie a su mujer
y se case con otra, comete adulterio
contra aquélla; 12 y si la mujer repudia
a su marido y se casa con otro, comete
adulterio.
13 Le presentaban unos niños para
que los tomara en sus brazos; pero los
discípulos les reñían. 14 Al verlo Jesús se
enfadó y les dijo:
–Dejad que los niños vengan conmigo,
y no se lo impidáis, porque de los
que son como ellos es el Reino de Dios.
15 En verdad os digo: quien no reciba el
Reino de Dios como un niño no entrará
en él.
16 Y abrazándolos, los bendecía imponiéndoles
las manos.
17 Cuando salía para ponerse en camino,
vino uno corriendo y, arrodillado
ante él, le preguntó:
–Maestro bueno, ¿qué debo hacer
para heredar la vida eterna?
18 Jesús le dijo:
–¿Por qué me llamas bueno? Nadie
es bueno sino uno solo: Dios. 19 Ya conoces
los mandamientos: no matarás, no
cometerás adulterio, no robarás, no dirás
falso testimonio, no defraudarás a nadie,
honra a tu padre y a tu madre.
20 –Maestro, todo esto lo he guardado
desde mi adolescencia –respondió
él.
21 Y Jesús fijó en él su mirada y quedó
prendado de él. Y le dijo:
–Una cosa te falta: anda, vende todo
lo que tienes y dáselo a los pobres, y tendrás
un tesoro en el cielo. Luego, ven y
sígueme. 22 Pero él, afligido por estas palabras,
se marchó triste, porque tenía muchas
posesiones.
23 Jesús, mirando a su alrededor, les
dijo a sus discípulos:
–¡Qué difícilmente entrarán en el
Reino de Dios los que tienen riquezas!
24 Los discípulos se quedaron impresionados
por sus palabras. Y hablándoles
de nuevo, dijo:
–Hijos, ¡qué difícil es entrar en el
Reino de Dios! 25 Es más fácil a un camello
pasar por el ojo de una aguja que
a un rico entrar en el Reino de Dios.
26 Y ellos se quedaron aún más asombrados
diciéndose unos a otros:
–Entonces, ¿quién puede salvarse?
27 Jesús, con la mirada fija en ellos,
les dijo:
–Para los hombres es imposible,
pero para Dios no; porque para Dios
todo es posible.
28 Comenzó Pedro a decirle:
–Ya ves que nosotros lo hemos dejado
todo y te hemos seguido.
29 Jesús respondió:
–En verdad os digo que no hay nadie
que haya dejado casa, hermanos
o hermanas, madre o padre, o hijos
o campos por mí y por el Evangelio,
30 que no reciba en este mundo cien veces
más en casas, hermanos, hermanas,
madres, hijos y campos, con persecuciones;
y, en el siglo venidero, la vida
eterna. 31 Porque muchos primeros serán
últimos, y muchos últimos serán
primeros. 32 Iban de camino subiendo a Jerusalén.
Jesús los precedía y ellos estaban
sorprendidos: los que le seguían tenían
miedo. Tomó de nuevo consigo a los
doce y comenzó a decirles lo que le iba a
suceder:
33 –Mirad, subimos a Jerusalén, y el
Hijo del Hombre será entregado a los
príncipes de los sacerdotes y a los escribas;
le condenarán a muerte y le entregarán
a los gentiles; 34 se burlarán de
él, le escupirán, lo azotarán y lo matarán,
pero después de tres días resucitará.
35 Entonces se acercan a él Santiago y
Juan, los hijos de Zebedeo, diciéndole:
–Maestro, queremos que nos concedas
lo que te vamos a pedir.
36 Él les dijo:
–¿Qué queréis que os haga?
37 Y ellos le contestaron:
–Concédenos sentarnos uno a tu
derecha y otro a tu izquierda en tu gloria.
38 Y Jesús les dijo:
–No sabéis lo que pedís. ¿Podéis beber
el cáliz que yo bebo, o recibir el bautismo
con que yo soy bautizado?
39 –Podemos –le dijeron ellos.
Jesús les dijo:
–Beberéis el cáliz que yo bebo y recibiréis
el bautismo con que yo soy bautizado;
40 pero sentarse a mi derecha o a
mi izquierda no me corresponde concederlo,
sino que es para quienes está dispuesto.
41 Al oír esto los diez comenzaron a
indignarse contra Santiago y Juan. 42 Entonces
Jesús les llamó y les dijo:
–Sabéis que los que figuran como jefes
de las naciones las oprimen, y los poderosos
las avasallan. 43 No tiene que ser
así entre vosotros; al contrario: quien
quiera llegar a ser grande entre vosotros,
que sea vuestro servidor; 44 y quien
entre vosotros quiera ser el primero,
que sea esclavo de todos: 45 porque el
Hijo del Hombre no ha venido a ser servido,
sino a servir y a dar su vida en redención
de muchos.
46 Llegan a Jericó. Y cuando salía él
de Jericó con sus discípulos y una gran
multitud, un ciego, Bartimeo, el hijo de
Timeo, estaba sentado al lado del camino
pidiendo limosna. 47 Y al oír que era
Jesús Nazareno, comenzó a decir a gritos:
–¡Jesús, Hijo de David, ten piedad
de mí!
48 Y muchos le reprendían para que
se callara. Pero él gritaba mucho más:
–¡Hijo de David, ten piedad de mí!
49 Se paró Jesús y dijo:
–Llamadle.
Llamaron al ciego diciéndole:
–¡Ánimo!, levántate, te llama.
50 Él, arrojando su manto, dio un salto
y se acercó a Jesús. 51 Jesús le preguntó:
–¿Qué quieres que te haga?
–Rabboni, que vea –le respondió el
ciego.
52 Entonces Jesús le dijo:
–Anda, tu fe te ha salvado.
Y al instante recobró la vista. Y le seguía
por el camino.
Pregunta de Lectio Divina del día de hoy
Entre las diversas escenas del capítulo de Marcos, ¿cuál te llama la atención? Reflexiona un poco sobre qué es exactamente lo que te está llamando...¿un reto o una convicción de Dios, un estímulo o una palabra de esperanza?...
La Biblia de Navarra
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para el Año de la Biblia del Obispo
dado por Ediciones Universidad de Navarra, S.A. (EUNSA).