Author: Deji Okegbile

In our Hebrew scripture and Gospel reading today there is a theme of authority and submission as against our culture of egos, discrimination and competition. In the Gospel, Jesus articulates for us the model of spirituality and politics of ministry, leadership, and greatness in service. Shaped by harsh ideological discrimination and servitude, the Gentile’s cultural frameworks resonates with our secular ideology. The notion of cultural frameworks of rule, greatness, mastery, and pre-eminence over others within Mark 10 also resonates with the prevailing global ideas of building borders and calling for making a particular nation ‘Great Again.’ Leadership framework is...

 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honour your father and mother.’ “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell...

“The Lord has made the deaf hear and the dumb speak. May He soon touch your ears to receive His word, and your mouth to proclaim His faith, to the praise and glory of God the Father. Amen.” Jesus’ prayer in Mark 7:31-37 is not just for the deaf and dumb man near the Sea of Galilee involved in this story. The truth is that Jesus has already opened up the heavens for us, hence his prayer ‘‘Ephphatha—Be opened,’ sums up Christ’s entire mission. He became man so that man, made inwardly deaf and dumb by sin, would become...