Aaron Simms

In chapter eleven of the book of Numbers, the Israelites are in the desert of Sinai after being led up out of their captivity in Egypt.  The Lord has been providing manna for them to eat, but some of the rabble begin to despise the manna.  They have the Lord to thank for delivering them and providing for them, but …

I think that at times we’ve probably all experienced the feeling that perhaps people aren’t really listening to us, or understanding us, when we’re trying to tell them something important.  You can tell that their mind is wandering.   Jesus has a similar experience in Mark 9:30-37 where his disciples aren’t quite grasping what he is trying to tell them.  …

St. James in his epistle mentions horses (James 3:1-12).  If you’ve ever ridden a horse, you’ve seen the bit that you put into the horse’s mouth to control him.  The bit rests in the mouth and on the tongue.  The bit then connects to the bridle, and then the rider sits on the back of the horse with the reigns …

The key to the Old Testament and Gospel readings for today is given in the very last verse of our reading from Mark (Isaiah 35:4-7a and Mark 7:31-37).  After Jesus heals the deaf and mute man, Mark says, “And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, ‘He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.’” …

A number of years ago I happened to meet a county health inspector.  As we were talking I said to him, “I bet you don’t eat out much at restaurants.”  He said, “Oh no way.  You wouldn’t believe the things I’ve seen.”  Then, he proceeded to tell me stories about the strange and gross things he had witnessed at restaurants …