Mark 15. 25-39 It was nine o'clock in the morning when they crucified him. The inscription of the charge against him read, "The King of the Jews." And with him they crucified two bandits, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, "Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!" In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe." Those who were crucified with him also taunted him. When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, "Listen, he is calling for Elijah." And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down." Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, "Truly this man was God's Son!"
Every week I post a passage from the Bible. It is the same passage that tens of thousands of people will be reading in their homes and in their churches the following Sunday. Reading and engaging the Bible text this way connects us with millions of people, past and present who are also looking for evidence of the Holy in their lives... looking for hOlybytes.
After you read the text or wonder about the image try asking yourself these simple questions:
What did I notice?
What attracts or repulses me?
How does this connect to my life?
What am I wondering now?
Then please share your hOlybytes by clicking on comment and adding your response.
Thanks for sharing your hOlybytes! Grace and Shalom to all,
I have a dream. Actually I have several dreams. They are connected.
I have a dream that believers who have found the Holy in their lives and in Holy Scriptures will tell their stories online.
I have a dream that seekers who describe themselves as spiritual but not religious will read the believer’s stories and be surprised by the Holy.
I have a dream that believers and seekers will connect as they share their glimpses of the Holy – their hOlybytes.
I have a dream that we will all reach beyond our selves to ignite the Holy in all of life – hOlybytes blessings.
I am privileged to serve as an Episcopal priest and the vicar of Church of the Apostles, Oro Valley, Arizona.