Not always staying the course

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us the human tendency to drift in our resolutions and commitments. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews cautions “we hold our first confidence firm to the end”. It is human to be enthused and even infatuated when new relationship and to lose interest as our needs and our plans surface again. The psalmist reveals the source of the biblical quote in Hebrews to be Psalm 95. The prayer tradition of Christian Prayer recites this Psalm on a daily basis. The reminder not to harden our hearts apparently needs frequent repetition. Mark relates the hope and expectation instilled in the outcast leper by the person of Jesus. In the rush of the power of the resonance of the indwelling Spirit of the marginalized with the Divine Spirit of Jesus Presence the man is given courage to approach and proclaim the power his Spirit has recognized. The heart of the man who is teacher and authority is extended in healing in the growing relationship. The directions for completion of the healing are those of the Law and the leper is asked to retain the details of the event in confidence. Mark relates the inability of the leper to do this and expresses that this may have caused a difficulty in the continuation of Jesus mission in the towns of Galilee.