The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today present the Spirit of Love as the Way of Jesus to transform the world. The texts resonate with the encouragement of the USCCB to pray for protection of unborn children today.
The reading from the Letter to the Hebrews proclaims the Sacrifice of Jesus as mediator of a new covenant.
* [9:23–28] Since the blood of animals became a cleansing symbol among Old Testament prefigurements, it was necessary that the realities foreshadowed be brought into being by a shedding of blood that was infinitely more effective by reason of its worth (Heb 9:23). Christ did not simply prefigure the heavenly realities (Heb 9:24) by performing an annual sacrifice with a blood not his own (Heb 9:25); he offered the single sacrifice of himself as the final annulment of sin (Heb 9:26). Just as death is the unrepeatable act that ends a person’s life, so Christ’s offering of himself for all is the unrepeatable sacrifice that has once for all achieved redemption (Heb 9:27–28). (Hebrews, CHAPTER 9, n.d.)
Psalm 98 praises the Judge of the World.
* [Psalm 98] A hymn, similar to Ps 96, extolling God for Israel’s victory (Ps 98:1–3). All nations (Ps 98:4–6) and even inanimate nature (Ps 98:7–8) are summoned to welcome God’s coming to rule over the world (Ps 98:9). (Psalms, PSALM 98, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is contrasted with Beelzebul with the example of a kingdom divided against itself.
* [3:29] Whoever blasphemes against the holy Spirit: this sin is called an everlasting sin because it attributes to Satan, who is the power of evil, what is actually the work of the holy Spirit, namely, victory over the demons. (Mark, CHAPTER 3, n.d.)
Andy Alexander, S.J. comments that Jesus is confronted by religious leaders who try to twist what he is saying and represents, to such a degree that they call Jesus evil. The debate over the sanctity of human life has too often resulted in each side demonizing the other. It's hard to imagine it any other way. Jesus is clearly not evil. Demonizing is really not of the Spirit.
To pray for the legal protection of unborn human life is to become an advocate for "safeguarding the dignity of every human life." It is praying that our God will help us find ways to protect the identity of unborn life as human in its origin, and worthy of legal protection. At the same time, we must pray for those who find themselves in unexpected, unwanted, even forced pregnancies. We can ask how we can together aid those women in their difficult circumstances, in ways that protect the life developing within them, and support those women with their difficult decision to give birth to that life. To pray today for the protection of unborn human life, invites us to be advocates for all human life, for the dignity of each human person, at every stage of life, in every circumstance. May the Author of Life help us find a way. (Alexander, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “The cross of Christ as victory,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"It is not difficult, therefore, to see how the devil was conquered when he, who was slain by him, rose again. But there is something greater and more profound of comprehension: to see how the devil was conquered precisely when he was thought to be conquering, namely, when Christ was crucified. For at that moment the blood of him who had no sin at all, was shed for the remission of our sins (Matthew 26:28, 1 John 3:5). The devil deservedly held those whom he had bound by sin to the condition of death. So it happened that One who was guilty of no sin freed them justly from this condemnation (Hebrews 2:14). The strong man was conquered by this paradoxical justice and bound by this chain, that his vessels [booty] might be taken away. Those vessels which had been vessels of wrath were turned into vessels of mercy (Romans 9:22-23)." (excerpt ON THE TRINITY 13.15.19) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Hebrews 9:15, 24-28 that on this day when many of us pray for the protection of unborn children, we can draw hope from this passage about Jesus, our compassionate high priest.
Even now, Jesus stands before his heavenly Father interceding for us. He is offering mercy and healing to every family wounded by abortion. He is pouring out grace for every man or woman who feels alone as they consider the future of their unborn child. And he is interceding for each of us, that we might meet the needs of every child and every parent. Let’s join him in praying that God’s kingdom would come—so that there will be no more abortion or poverty or hunger or violence. May God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven!
“Jesus, you take away every sin! Have mercy on us and on the whole world.” (Meditation on Hebrews 9:15, 24-28, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler discusses the Hebrews passage where Jesus is the mediator of the New Covenant in His Sacrifice on the Cross. The word play on the Baal of Zebul is connected to the name of Beelzebul. Friar Jude reminds us of the need to change life patterns as we are often “sin a holics”.
Barbara Holmes invites the students at CAC’s Living School to reflect on Jesus’ prophetic tasks. Prophecy comes to life as love. Jesus the prophet is love manifested. We also can be love manifested in the world.
Because Jesus has come and truly overturned and overcome the systems of the world, he beckons us to do likewise. You see, the system says, “It can’t be done. You cannot walk on water. Gravity wins.” The system says that “religion is of no use except to placate the people, and you’d better put your money in growth mutual funds.” Jesus says there’s another way, the prophetic way, and even now Jesus beckons, saying, “Step out on the water, come.”
Now, you may be thinking, “How am I going to walk on water? I don’t even know how to swim.” Well, we offer our gifts to God and our neighbors, that’s how we walk on water. Your gift may be prayer or art or business or teaching, but the prophetic call will hone your gifts so that your very lives are a prophetic witness to the world. (Holmes, n.d.)
We trust that by following the guidance of the Spirit our actions for fullness of life will always reflect the love of God for all Creation.
References
Alexander, A. (2023, January 22). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved January 23, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/012323.html
Hebrews, CHAPTER 9. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved January 23, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/9?15
Holmes, B. (n.d.). Prophecy is Love Manifested. Daily Meditations Archive: 2023. Retrieved January 23, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/prophecy-is-love-manifested-2023-01-23/
Mark, CHAPTER 3. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved January 23, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/3?22
Meditation on Hebrews 9:15, 24-28. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved January 23, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/01/23/592368/
Psalms, PSALM 98. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved January 23, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/98
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Jesus Frees Us from Satan's Power. Daily Scripture net. Retrieved January 23, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=jan23
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