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| Continue to Trust |
The backstory to the loss of Eden by Adam and Eve in the Book of Genesis shows intimacy of creatures walking with the Creator.
* [3:15] They will strike…at their heel: the antecedent for “they” and “their” is the collective noun “offspring,” i.e., all the descendants of the woman. Christian tradition has seen in this passage, however, more than unending hostility between snakes and human beings. The snake was identified with the devil (Wis 2:24; Jn 8:44; Rev 12:9; 20:2), whose eventual defeat seemed implied in the verse. Because “the Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the devil” (1 Jn 3:8), the passage was understood as the first promise of a redeemer for fallen humankind, the protoevangelium. Irenaeus of Lyons (ca. A.D. 130–200), in his Against Heresies 5.21.1, followed by several other Fathers of the Church, interpreted the verse as referring to Christ, and cited Gal 3:19 and 4:4 to support the reference. Another interpretive translation is ipsa, “she,” and is reflected in Jerome’s Vulgate. “She” was thought to refer to Mary, the mother of the messiah. In Christian art Mary is sometimes depicted with her foot on the head of the serpent.Paul reflects to the community in the Second Letter to the Corinthians on the power of his faith in the eternal Presence of God to him to triumph over rejection, persecution and failing health.
* [4:16–18] In a series of contrasts Paul explains the extent of his faith in life. Life is not only already present and revealing itself (2 Cor 4:8–11, 16) but will outlast his experience of affliction and dying: it is eternal (2 Cor 4:17–18).In the Gospel from Mark, Jesus refutes accusations of evil origin of His power as He points to the collapse of kingdoms at war with themselves.
* [3:20–35] Within the narrative of the coming of Jesus’ relatives (Mk 3:20–21) is inserted the account of the unbelieving scribes from Jerusalem who attributed Jesus’ power over demons to Beelzebul (Mk 3:22–30); see note on Mk 5:21–43. There were those even among the relatives of Jesus who disbelieved and regarded Jesus as out of his mind (Mk 3:21). Against this background, Jesus is informed of the arrival of his mother and brothers [and sisters] (Mk 3:32). He responds by showing that not family ties but doing God’s will (Mk 3:35) is decisive in the kingdom; cf. note on Mt 12:46–50.The Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith, comments on interpretation of the Genesis 3:15 pronouns.
Gerald O’Collins SJ, Jesuit priest and research professor teaches that St Paul could characterise as a form of priestly liturgy and sacrifice his work of evangelising the Gentiles. He finds that in celebrating the Eucharist (and, indeed, in further areas of their ministry) ordained priests are visible signs of the invisible, but dynamically present, Christ.
At every Eucharist, Christ is the Offerer, the One who invisibly but truly offers the sacramental celebration of his once-and-for-all sacrifice. He takes up into his self-offering the visible priest and the assembled faithful. In the Eucharistic meal he shares himself with all the faithful. The ordained priests act ‘in the person of Christ’ – not in the sense of replacing him or substituting for him but in the sense of acting as visible signs of his invisible and dynamic presence as the Offerer and the Offering. The visible priest presides at the Eucharistic ceremony, but it is Christ who perpetually offers his sacrifice. One might take some famous words of Augustine about baptism and apply them to the Eucharist by saying: ‘Peter presides, Christ offers. Paul presides, Christ offers.’Meda Stamper reflects on the Markan sandwich in the Gospel today (Crowd and family are the outer layers of the intercalation).
Then here perhaps are we, the crowd pressing in to see him and touch him, maybe urgently and desperately, but as the tale turns we find that our desperate desire has been more than met. We also are claimed by him as his sisters and brothers and mother, no longer outsiders at a distance, but holders of the secrets of the kingdom, drawn into the inner circle of the mystery and love of God.Cindy Murphy McMahon wants to concentrate on Paul’s very hopeful, inspiring message to us.
We can apply these words right now, even if we are physically healthy, because our outer selves waste away through many different circumstances. We age, we make mistakes, we have regrets, we are insulted, we are forgotten – all ways in which our outer selves are diminished.Don Schwager quotes Irenaeus, 135-202 A.D., on humanity receiving incorruptibility not of themselves, but by the free gift of God.
We should have this passage taped to our bathroom mirrors and read it every day. All of us can be discouraged when these physical, mental and emotional diminishments happen, but, Paul reminds us, we do not have to be. In fact, he says, we are NOT discouraged. And why not?
"The adversary enticed humanity to transgress our maker's law, and thereby got us into his clutches (Genesis 3:1-6). Yet his power consisted only in tempting the human will toward trespass and apostasy. With these chains he bound up the human will. This is why in the economy of salvation it was necessary that he be bound with the same chains by which he had bound humanity. It would be through a man that humanity would be set free to return to the Lord (Romans 5:18), leaving the adversary in those bonds by which he himself had been fettered, that is, sin. For when Satan is bound, man is set free; since 'none can enter a strong man's house and spoil his goods, unless he first bind the strong man himself' (Matthew 12:29; Mark 3:27). It is in this way that he became exposed as the opposer of the Word who made all things, and subdued by his command. The new man showed him to be a fugitive from the law, and an apostate from God. He then was securely bound as a fugitive, and his goods hauled away. These goods are those who had been in bondage, whom he had unjustly used for his own purposes. So it was a just means by which he was led captive, who had led humanity into captivity unjustly. In this way humanity was rescued from the clutches of its possessor by the tender mercy of God the Father, who had compassion on his own handiwork, and gave to it salvation, restoring it by means of the Word, Christ, in order that humanity might learn from this actual event that they receive incorruptibility not of themselves, but by the free gift of God" (Romans 5:16). (excerpt from AGAINST HERESIES 5.21.3.29)The Word Among Us Meditation on 2 Corinthians 4:13–5:1 advises the next time we start feeling discouraged, we think like Paul. Keep telling ourselves that God knows the situation. He feels our pain. He is with us. Never forget that nothing can separate us from his love.
At the Last Supper, Jesus told his disciples, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me” (John 14:1). Here he was about to face the cross, and yet he spent his last hours on earth helping his friends—by urging them to trust in God. As comforting as these words sound, they also contain a vital strategy: Hold on to your faith! Trust that my Father and I won’t abandon you.Friar Jude Winkler comments on five interpretations arising from the Genesis text or enmity arising towards the serpent. Paul confirms that we will suffer and be persecuted. We will not last forever. We judge according to faith that God will fulfill His promises. Friar Jude notes the confusion among the family of Jesus in the Gospel continues in the lives of His disciples.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, asks why Jesus tells stories that show harsh judgment, casting the rejected into “outer darkness” and “eternal punishment”?
Unfortunately, Christians have managed to avoid most of what Jesus taught so unequivocally: nonviolence, sharing, simplicity, loving our enemies. Thankfully many Christians are returning to Jesus’ foundational messages and seeking to follow his example. They are not shying away from the embarrassments and evils of our churches, politics, and economy and the ways we each contribute to and are complicit in them.Paul exhorts us to faith in the Promises of God to overcome Temptation, as old as Genesis, to prefer our selfish goals over being active members of the family of Jesus.
References
(n.d.). Genesis 3:15. Retrieved June 10, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/genesis/genesis3.htm
(2009, September 10). He, she, it, or they? Genesis 3:15 | Baptist Christian Forums .... Retrieved June 10, 2018, from https://www.baptistboard.com/threads/he-she-it-or-they-genesis-3-15.56275/
(n.d.). 2 Corinthians, chapter 4 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved June 10, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/2corinthians/4
(2009, June 26). Jesus Our Priest | Thinking Faith: The online journal of the Jesuits in .... Retrieved June 10, 2018, from https://www.thinkingfaith.org/articles/20090626_1.htm
(n.d.). CHAPTER 3 A Man with a Withered Hand. 1 Again he entered the .... Retrieved June 10, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/mark/mark3.htm
(n.d.). Mark 3:20-35 Commentary by Meda Stamper - Working Preacher .... Retrieved June 10, 2018, from https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=1315
(n.d.). Creighton's Online Ministries - Creighton University. Retrieved June 10, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/online.html
(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved June 10, 2018, from http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
(n.d.). Meditations - The Word Among Us. Retrieved June 10, 2018, from https://wau.org/meditations/
(2017, December 30). 2018 Daily Meditations - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved June 10, 2018, from https://cac.org/2018-daily-meditations/
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