The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today describe Jesus mission and invite us to contemplate the consequences of the demons and fears in our lives even as we connect to Jesus in prayer about our need to be free.
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The Letter to the Hebrews presents Jesus choice to join us in human experience.
By sharing human nature, including the ban of death, Jesus broke the power of the devil over death (Heb 2:4); the author shares the view of Hellenistic Judaism that death was not intended by God and that it had been introduced into the world by the devil. The fear of death (Heb 2:15) is a religious fear based on the false conception that death marks the end of a person’s relations with God (cf. Ps 115:17–18; Is 38:18). Jesus deliberately allied himself with the descendants of Abraham (Heb 2:16) in order to be a merciful and faithful high priest. This is the first appearance of the central theme of Hebrews, Jesus the great high priest expiating the sins of the people (Heb 2:17), as one who experienced the same tests as they (Heb 2:18).1
The Gospel from Mark relates a day in Jesus public ministry and His encounters with those in need of support.
The narrative continues with events that evening (Mk 1:32–34; see notes on Mt 8:14–17) and the next day (Mk 1:35–39).2
Tom Shanahan, S.J. comments that Jesus recognizes the interplay between his gracious activity among those in need and the need himself to acknowledge the relationship with his Father God. That relationship is central to his work, his words, and especially to himself as God’s son.
So today I am taught by Jesus himself and by a beautiful white Bear to seek out the center of my own life. My relationship with God is the very centerpiece of my life, whatever its contours, its ups and downs. My call to discipleship is to acknowledge that centrality by doing what Jesus does (“he prayed”).3
Don Schwager quotes “The habit of prayer,” by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD).
"Jesus prayed and did not pray in vain, since he received what he asked for in prayer when he might have done so without prayer. If so, who among us would neglect to pray? Mark says that 'in the morning, a great while before day, he rose and went out to a lonely place, and there he prayed' (Mark 1:35). And Luke says, 'He was praying in a certain place, and when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray,"' (Luke 11:1) and elsewhere, 'And all night he continued in prayer to God' (Luke 6:12). And John records his prayer, saying, 'When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you"' (John 17:1). The same Evangelist writes that the Lord said that he knew 'you hear me always' (John 11:42). All this shows that the one who prays always is always heard." (excerpt from ON PRAYER 13.1)4
The Word Among Us Meditation on Hebrews 2:14-18 urges us to remember that Jesus knows what we are going through. He chose to become fully human so that he could feel what we feel. He chose to become one like us so that he could relate to us—and so that we could relate to him!
Every time you feel tired or tempted, hungry or hurt, remember that Jesus knows. Remember how he turned to his Father in prayer before the devil even had a chance. Then pray. Find a “deserted place,” and ask Jesus for his grace to see you through (Mark 1:35). Always remember that he is with you. He is always at your side, ready to help you and encourage you. Always remember that he knows.
“Jesus, you know what it is like to struggle with the demands of life. Help me, Lord.”5
Friar Jude Winkler describes Jesus choice to be incarnate as described in Hebrews as joining us in the trenches. This is a model for ministry. Friar Jude comments on the openness and honesty of the details that Peter shares with Mark as first hand accounts of Jesus actions even when the details of Peter’s imperfections are revealed. We, like Peter, are called to do the best we can with what we have.
Cynthia Bourgeault concludes that when Jesus talks about Oneness, what he has in mind is a complete, mutual indwelling: I am in God, God is in you, you are in God, we are in each other. Jesus’ vision is of no separation between human and Divine. No separation between human and human is an equally powerful notion—and equally challenging.
It’s just “Love your neighbor as yourself”—as a continuation of your very own being. It’s a complete seeing that your neighbor is you. There are not two individuals out there, one seeking to better herself at the price of the other, or to extend charity to the other; there are simply two cells of the one great Life. Each of them is equally precious and necessary. And as these two cells flow into one another, experiencing that one Life from the inside, they discover that “laying down one’s life for another” is not a loss of one’s self but a vast expansion of it—because the indivisible reality of love is the only True Self.6
The demons and fears of life attempt to make separation between God and us and between us and our brothers and sisters in the human family. The prayer habit is our time for recovering our relationship with God and re-establishing our commitment to the mission of Love.
References
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(n.d.). Hebrews, chapter 2 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved January 16, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/2
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(n.d.). Mark, chapter 1 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved January 16, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/mark
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(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved January 16, 2019, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
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(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 16, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
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(n.d.). 1st Week in Ordinary Time - Mass Readings and Catholic Daily .... Retrieved January 16, 2019, from https://wau.org/meditations/
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(2019, January 4). Daily Meditations Archive: January 2019 - Daily Meditations Archives .... Retrieved January 16, 2019, from https://cac.org/category/daily-meditations/2019/01/
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