The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today encourage us to seek rest for the disturbances in our well being in our relationship with Christ.
The reading from the Letter to the Hebrews shares the rest that God promised.
Therefore, let us strive to enter into that rest, so that no one may fall after the same example of disobedience. (Hebrews, CHAPTER 4, n.d.)
Psalm 78 praises God’s Goodness and Israel’s ingratitude.
* [Psalm 78] A recital of history to show that past generations did not respond to God’s gracious deeds and were punished by God making the gift into a punishment. Will Israel fail to appreciate God’s act—the choosing of Zion and of David? The tripartite introduction invites Israel to learn the lessons hidden in its traditions (Ps 78:1–4, 5–7, 8–11); each section ends with the mention of God’s acts. (Psalms, PSALM 78, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus heals a Paralytic.
* [2:10] But that you may know that the Son of Man…on earth: although Mk 2:8–9 are addressed to the scribes, the sudden interruption of thought and structure in Mk 2:10 seems not addressed to them nor to the paralytic. Moreover, the early public use of the designation “Son of Man” to unbelieving scribes is most unlikely. The most probable explanation is that Mark’s insertion of Mk 2:10 is a commentary addressed to Christians for whom he recalls this miracle and who already accept in faith that Jesus is Messiah and Son of God (Mark, CHAPTER 2, n.d.).
Eileen Wirth comments that at one time, being “on guard” entailed scrupulously following every church rule: for Catholics, no meat on Fridays, fasting during Lent, never missing Mass on holy days, and paying attention to the three principal parts of Mass so your attendance “counted” etc.
I’ve known a lot of crusaders but none more delightful or inspiring than my friend Jane who lived her life “on guard” fighting for people on the margins.
She fought for services for the mentally ill and advocated for compassionately ministry to LGBT people like her transgender granddaughter. She volunteered with refugees and taught GED classes plus attending protests for peace and social justice. In her funeral card, I wrote that she spent her life making “good trouble.” Neighbors nicknamed her “Red Jane.”
The most important thing Jane taught me was how to be “on guard” lovingly and joyfully. With her beaming smile, she enticed friends to get involved in both her crusades and mundane volunteer projects by promising “we’ll have so much fun.” And we did. (Wirth, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Reverse your relation with sickness,” by Peter Chrysologus (400-450 AD).
"Take up your bed. Carry the very mat that once carried you. Change places, so that what was the proof of your sickness may now give testimony to your soundness. Your bed of pain becomes the sign of healing, its very weight the measure of the strength that has been restored to you." (excerpt from HOMILY 50.6)
[Peter Chrysologus was a renowned preacher and bishop of Ravena in the 5th century] (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 2:1-12 comments that God still carries out this mission of forgiveness and healing today. Through the power of the Spirit at work in the Church, he still breaks into people’s lives with the freeing power of divine mercy. Like the people in Galilee, we too come to Jesus with our wounded hearts and our need for forgiveness. And as he did back then, still today he forgives.
Today in prayer, ask the Lord for forgiveness. This can feel difficult to do at times. The devil is always trying to keep you from reaching out for God’s mercy. He is always trying to convince you to condemn yourself and to despair of ever being forgiven. He wants you to think that you must fix yourself up before God will love you. But these are all lies.
So confess your sins. It’s true that only God can forgive—but it’s also true that he doesn’t hold back! Jesus longs to heal your wounded heart. He longs to free you of your burden of guilt. Accept his offer—today.
“Jesus, thank you for forgiving my sins.” (Meditation on Mark 2:1-12, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler discusses the examples of rest in the passage from Hebrews. Jesus exerts His authority, as God, to forgive sins in the healing of the paralytic. Friar Jude reminds us that Jesus desires to heal the doubts, fears, and depression of our hearts.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that our age has come to expect satisfaction. We have grown up in an absolutely unique period when having and possessing and accomplishing have been real options. They have given us an illusion of fulfillment—and fulfillment now—as long as we are clever enough, quick enough, and pray or work hard enough for our goals or rewards.
We must listen, wait, and pray for our charism and call. Most of us are really only good at one or two things. Meditation should lead to a clarity about who we are and, maybe even more, who we are not. This second revelation is just as important as the first. I have found it difficult over the years to sit down and tell people what is not their gift. It is usually very humiliating for individuals to face their own illusions and inabilities. We are not usually a truth-speaking people. We don’t speak the truth to one another, nor does our culture encourage the journey toward the True Self. The false self often sets itself up for unnecessary failures and humiliations. [3] (Rohr, n.d.)
We are nudged by the Spirit toward a disposition of surrender to the Will of God to experience rest from the paralysis of cultural demands.
References
Hebrews, CHAPTER 4. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved January 13, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/4?1
Mark, CHAPTER 2. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved January 13, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/2?1
Meditation on Mark 2:1-12. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved January 13, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/01/13/583604/
Psalms, PSALM 78. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved January 13, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/78?3
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Surrendering to Our Soul Gift. Daily Meditations Archive: 2023. Retrieved January 13, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/surrendering-to-our-soul-gift-2023-01-13/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). We Never Saw Anything like This! Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 13, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=jan13
Wirth, E. (n.d.). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved January 13, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/011323.html
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