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Thursday, December 17, 2015
Bonus Reading, Mark
Mounting Pressure on Jesus
Today's reading provides a series of events that show the increasing pressure on Jesus once he arrives in Jerusalem. Both religious and political leaders are anxious about the popular teacher; Jesus tells a parable predicting his imminent unjust death. Then he responds to questions about taxes and resurrection pointing out that people are focused on the wrong things, when they should worry about loving God and loving each other. In contrast to their worries and their attempts to jockey for social status, Jesus praises the faith of a simple widow, who shares all her money -- which is almost nothing -- with others who have even less than she does.
