The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge our understanding of our relationship to Christ in our reaction to discipline and to the fullness of Jesus divinity and humanity.
The reading from the Letter to the Hebrews shares warnings against rejecting God’s Grace.
* [12:1–13] Christian life is to be inspired not only by the Old Testament men and women of faith (Heb 12:1) but above all by Jesus. As the architect of Christian faith, he had himself to endure the cross before receiving the glory of his triumph (Heb 12:2). Reflection on his sufferings should give his followers courage to continue the struggle, if necessary even to the shedding of blood (Heb 12:3–4). Christians should regard their own sufferings as the affectionate correction of the Lord, who loves them as a father loves his children. (Hebrews, CHAPTER 12, n.d.)
Psalm 103 offers thanksgiving for God’s Goodness.
* [Psalm 103] The speaker in this hymn begins by praising God for personal benefits (Ps 103:1–5), then moves on to God’s mercy toward all the people (Ps 103:6–18). Even sin cannot destroy that mercy (Ps 103:11–13), for the eternal God is well aware of the people’s human fragility (Ps 103:14–18). The psalmist invites the heavenly beings to join in praise (Ps 103:19–22). (Psalms, PSALM 103, n.d.)
The Gospel of Mark describes the rejection of Jesus at Nazareth.
* [6:3] Is he not the carpenter?: no other gospel calls Jesus a carpenter. Some witnesses have “the carpenter’s son,” as in Mt 13:55. Son of Mary: contrary to Jewish custom, which calls a man the son of his father, this expression may reflect Mark’s own faith that God is the Father of Jesus (Mk 1:1, 11; 8:38; 13:32; 14:36). The brother of James…Simon: in Semitic usage, the terms “brother,” “sister” are applied not only to children of the same parents, but to nephews, nieces, cousins, half-brothers, and half-sisters; cf. Gn 14:16; 29:15; Lv 10:4. While one cannot suppose that the meaning of a Greek word should be sought in the first place from Semitic usage, the Septuagint often translates the Hebrew ’āh by the Greek word adelphos, “brother,” as in the cited passages, a fact that may argue for a similar breadth of meaning in some New Testament passages. For instance, there is no doubt that in v. 17, “brother” is used of Philip, who was actually the half-brother of Herod Antipas. On the other hand, Mark may have understood the terms literally; see also 3:31–32; Mt 12:46; 13:55–56; Lk 8:19; Jn 7:3, 5. The question of meaning here would not have arisen but for the faith of the church in Mary’s perpetual virginity.
* [6:4] A prophet is not without honor except…in his own house: a saying that finds parallels in other literatures, especially Jewish and Greek, but without reference to a prophet. Comparing himself to previous Hebrew prophets whom the people rejected, Jesus intimates his own eventual rejection by the nation especially in view of the dishonor his own relatives had shown him (Mk 3:21) and now his townspeople as well. (Mark, CHAPTER 6, n.d.)
Steve Scholer comments that self-discipline is easier said than done. Think back to a month ago, to our New Year’s resolutions. How firm and committed we were on January 1st, to a dry January, 10,000+ steps a day, or attending daily Mass. Truth be told, probably close to half of us were not able to follow through on our resolutions for even a month. So, how do we improve? They say that one of the best ways to discipline yourself and to achieve your goals is to team up with someone.
Who better to partner with on our most personal goals and aspirations, than Christ? For Christ is always at our side and more than anyone else, wants us to succeed and be the very best person we can be.
As we go about our busy lives, trying to become better Christians, take the time to share your thoughts and goals with Jesus. In prayer, let Jesus know how you want to become better and ask Jesus to guide and influence you through your day, so you can live up to your own expectations and to Christ’s expectations of us.
With this dynamic partnership, there is nothing we cannot accomplish or overcome. (Scholer, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Distinguishing God's power and our faith,” by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD).
"And perhaps, as in the case of metallic substances there exists in some a natural attraction toward some other thing, as in the magnet for iron, and in naphtha for fire, so there is an attraction in such faith toward the divine power according to what Jesus said: 'If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say unto this mountain, 'Move to another place,' and it shall be moved' (Matthew 17:20). Matthew and Mark wished to present the all-surpassing value of that divine power as a power that works even in those who do not believe. But they did not deny that grace works even more powerfully among those who have faith. So it seems to me that they accurately said not that the Lord did not do any mighty works because of their unbelief, but that he did not do many there (Mark 6:5). Mark does not flatly say that he could do no mighty work there at all, and stop at that point, but added, 'except that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk and healed them' (Mark 6:5). Thus the power in him overcame even their unbelief." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 10.19) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation: Mark 6:1-6 comments that we might also have a problem with being too familiar with Jesus, but in the opposite direction. We might take offense at the fact that Jesus was really a human being like ourselves. We’ve grown up knowing him as the God who redeemed us by his cross and resurrection. It can scandalize us to think that he was like us in every way but sin.
We celebrated the birth of Jesus only five weeks ago, but the incarnation is a mystery of our faith that we can meditate on all year long. God stooped down to earth to become just like one of his lowly creatures. But don’t let that offend you! He did it out of pure love for you and for each one of us. So let’s rejoice today. Jesus is our Lord and Savior, yes, but because he is human, he is also our brother and friend.
“Jesus, in your humanity, draw me close to you.” (Meditation: Mark 6:1-6, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler discusses the discipline that suffering imposes on our lives in which we have the opportunity for purification of our intentions. Accepting Jesus as the “Son of God” was particularly challenging for Hebrew believers. The relationship of “brothers and sisters” to Jesus is interpreted differently by Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant Christians. Friar Jude reminds us that we often see the flaws in those close to us that others may not appreciate.
Brian McLaren charts growth in spiritual life as coming to greater fullness when we move beyond the simplicity of the First Season of Faith.
Nearly all of us in this dynamic season of Simplicity tend to share a number of characteristics. We see the world in simple dualist terms: we are the good guys who follow the good authority figures and we have the right answers; they are the bad guys who consciously or unconsciously fight on the wrong side of the cosmic struggle between good and evil. We feel a deep sense of identity and belonging in our in-group…. This simple, dualist faith gives us great confidence.
This confidence, of course, has a danger, as the old Bob Dylan classic “With God on Our Side” makes clear: “You don’t count the dead when God’s on your side.” [1] The same sense of identification with an in-group that generates a warm glow of belonging and motivates sacrificial action for us can sour into intolerance, hatred, and even violence toward them. And the same easy, black-and-white answers that comfort and reassure us now may later seem arrogant, naive, ignorant, and harmful, if we don’t move beyond Simplicity in the fullness of time. (McLaren, 2023)
We ponder our spiritual journey recalling the ecstasy and certainty as we implore the help of the Spirit with the challenges of the transitions we are invited to accept on the journey to fullness of life.
References
Hebrews, CHAPTER 12. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 1, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/12?4
Mark, CHAPTER 6. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 1, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/6?1
McLaren, B. D. (2023, February 1). The First Season of Faith — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved February 1, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-first-season-of-faith-2023-02-01/
Meditation: Mark 6:1-6. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved February 1, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/02/01/599098/
Psalms, PSALM 103. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 1, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/103?1
Scholer, S. (n.d.). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved February 1, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/020123.html
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Jesus Marveled because of Their Unbelief. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved February 1, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=feb1
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