Rev'd Up for Sunday
Listen along as the priests of St. Mark's, New Canaan (Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy) gear up for Sunday. Each week the preacher will lead a discussion of the scriptures of the day. Sometimes irreverent, often witty, always filled with love for our Lord: don’t miss these conversations about the questions, mysteries, and hope these three find in the Bible.
Rev'd Up for Sunday
"Have Mercy!" Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 | Episode 262
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This week’s reading brings us to Jesus calling Matthew the tax collector, dining with those considered outsiders, healing a woman suffering for twelve years, and raising a synagogue leader's daughter. Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy identify a common thread running through all these stories: mercy. Learn how following Jesus is a journey into greater mercy, deeper trust, and true spiritual freedom.
Questions for Further Discussion
Themes and Application
- Peter suggests that mercy might be a word worth carrying in your heart for an entire year. If you chose one spiritual word or practice to focus on this year, what would it be and why?
- John notes that God often chooses unexpected people throughout scripture: Jacob over Esau, David over his brothers, and Matthew over more respectable candidates. Why do you think God is drawn toward people on the margins?
- Elizabeth argues that everyone in the story needs mercy, including the Pharisees. How does that challenge the way we typically divide people into "good guys" and "bad guys"?
Personal Reflection
- When have you experienced mercy from someone at a time when you least expected it?
- Have you ever felt like Matthew, the hemorrhaging woman, or the synagogue leader, carrying a burden that left you feeling isolated, ashamed, or desperate?
- Peter speaks about following Jesus as moving from a profession to a vocation, from simply doing something to becoming someone new. Where have you experienced that kind of transformation in your own life?
Broader Spiritual Considerations
- The clergy describe Jesus as both faithful to his tradition and radically transformative within it. How can religious communities honor tradition while remaining open to new insights from God?
- The conversation suggests that many of society's divisions are fueled by fear, pride, and exclusion. How does the Gospel challenge these forces?
- What is the relationship between mercy and justice? Can one exist fully without the other?
Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org