When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup

When we eat this bread and drink this cup

[Newsletter article for April 2026]

Dear brothers and sisters!

We begin this month with the Paschal Triduum. An observance of the Maundy Thursday, Good Friday through Easter Vigil to the Resurrection Day. All three of these dates and events are intertwine with each other and can not be separated by a simple dissection. We could not celebrate Easter unless Jesus came through the pangs of death on the Cross. At the same time, He wouldn't be on the Cross if Judas stayed in the Upper Room when the Savior instituted the Lord's Supper. The history is a clothing of the world events made without seams...

Gospel of Mark: Traditions

Traditions

Text: Mark 7

Outline:

A. 7:1-13, Discussion on tradition and defilement

  A'. 7:14-23, Jesus explains what really defiles a man

B. 7:24-30, Syrophoenician women

  B'. 7:31-37, Deaf man

Comments: Let's start with the “Fiddler on the Roof.” Remember Tevye singing “Tradition” – that's what we are going to talk about today.

1 Corinthians: Opening

Epistolary Opening

text: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Outline:

A. Address, 1:1-2

B. Blessing, 1:3

C. Calling, 1:4-9

Comments: Most of the Christians have a general knowledge of the Epistle. St. Paul didn't waste his breath for polite and extravagant beating around the bush – he will address many challenges, problems, and sins of the congregation in a very straight forward manner. In the light of our background knowledge about the content, it is very noteworthy seeing the positive opening he begins with.

Gospel of MARK: Two banquets

Two “banquets”

Text: Mark 6

Outline:

A. 6:1-6, Jesus is rejected at Nazareth

  B. 6:7-13, Jesus sends out His disciples

    C. 6:14-29, Banquet of Herod

    C’. 6:30-44, Banquet of 5000

  B’. 6:45-52, Jesus comes to His disciples by water

A’. 6:53-56, Jesus is accepted at Gennesaret

Comments: Let’s begin with the structure. A and A’ talk about Jesus reaching out to people in two different places (no other stories name the places), mentioning also “villages” (v. 6b, 56). B and B’ talks about Jesus sending out and coming to His disciples. C and C’ have stories of two banquets – one is Herod’s birthday, the second one where Jesus feeds 5000.

Traveling

 Traveling

[Newsletter article for March 2026] 

Over and again I re-read the wilderness account of the temptations of Jesus. I think I understand “bread one.” For sure, bread is important for life, but we are not to place the gifts of God before the Giver. He is the great provider. His living Word – our Lord Jesus – is our primary source of satisfaction. Maybe I just scratching the surface of the meaning – I find it sufficient for now.

But what about the other two? What puzzles me is not the response of Jesus – the whole approach is off: jumping of a pinnacle of the Temple? (Matthew 4:5-7). I can easily see how Jesus steps out of the roof and very slowly descends to the ground without ANY angelic help – as He did it later in His ministry walking on waters. So, what was devil trying to accomplish there? Test the boundaries of trust the Son has toward the Father? See is it really the incarnate Creator who rules over the law of gravity He embedded into the nature?

Gospel of Mark: Two stories of healing

Two stories of Healing

Text: Mark 4:35 – 5:43

Outline:

A. 4:35-41, Calming down a storm

B. 5:1-20, Healing a man with a demon

C. 5:21-43, Healing of two “girls”

Comments:

I told you I am a fan of Creation. Here we go again. Just look at the outline. Nature, then Man, then Woman (actually two of them – God loves His daughters). Now, let us go to the text.

GENESIS: Creation Story

Creation Story

text: Genesis 1:1 – 2:24

Outline:
1^st story, 1:1 – 2:3, 7 day of creation

2^nd story, 2:4 – 2:24, creation of man

Comments: Isn't it interesting and intriguing that Bible begins with the creation account. Not 10 commandments, not the Fall. The Flood could've been a great beginning – while Noah is in the Arks, God tells him the story of creation and fall – which led ultimately to the Flood. No, Bible starts from the very beginning. It tells you something – that God is the creator. No simply the One who put everything in its place, but the One who constantly creates – old things do not suffice, they have to be transformed (Isaiah 43:18-19; Isaiah 65:17 and 2 Corinthians 5:17; Revelation 21:5).

Therefore, the creation account is not simply a sequence of disconnected acts or events – it is a profound pattern we always need to return to. Fulfilling our life vocations, doing church work, or anything else – being the bearers of God's image we are bound to mimic His initial action of creation.