The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary on the Memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas offer an opportunity to consider some of the logic and structure in the Church celebration of Jesus.
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| New based on Tradition |
The Letter to the Hebrews addresses the sacrifice of Jesus in a comparison of the Hebrew and Christian Covenant.
* [9:28] To take away the sins of many: the reference is to Is 53:12. Since the Greek verb anapherÅ can mean both “to take away” and “to bear,” the author no doubt intended to play upon both senses: Jesus took away sin by bearing it himself. See the similar wordplay in Jn 1:29. Many is used in the Semitic meaning of “all” in the inclusive sense, as in Mk 14:24. To those who eagerly await him: Jesus will appear a second time at the parousia, as the high priest reappeared on the Day of Atonement, emerging from the Holy of Holies, which he had entered to take away sin. This dramatic scene is described in Sir 50:5–11.1
Jesus address the accusation of the Pharisees about the influence of Beelzebul in the Gospel from Mark.
* [3:22] By Beelzebul: see note on Mt 10:25. Two accusations are leveled against Jesus: (1) that he is possessed by an unclean spirit and (2) by the prince of demons he drives out demons. Jesus answers the second charge by a parable (Mk 3:24–27) and responds to the first charge in Mk 3:28–29.2
Joan Blandin Howard considers the structure of a Covenant with God.
This covenant did not work out as Yahweh had desired. Yahweh desired a faithful, loving, personal relationship with his chosen people. This sort of relationship was foreign to these people. Respect, fear, admiration, ownership and the law were the basis of most relationships. Love was not a consideration, especially the concept of a loving God.
Jesus was the incarnation of this New Covenant. The author of the letter to the Hebrews tells us “Christ is the mediator of a new covenant…”. Through Jesus, God promised “eternal inheritance”. “…so also Christ, offered once to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to take away sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him”.
Jesus was the incarnation of Love. Jesus was to mediate, to be the conduit of God’s love, faithfulness, mercy, justice and healing. Jesus showed us how to live out this new covenant, not just through the law, but also through personal and intimate relationships – with God primarily and with neighbor and family. By living this covenant of Love we would be given “eternal inheritance…salvation…”
Although Mark does not speak directly of the new covenant, he does say, “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.” The implication is that a united kingdom can and will stand. I think we can safely say that if the covenant is firm, if we as individuals and as community are committed to this ‘new covenant’, we can count on God’s faithfulness, love, support, protection and salvation.3
Don Schwager quotes “The cross of Christ as victory,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"It is not difficult, therefore, to see how the devil was conquered when he, who was slain by him, rose again. But there is something greater and more profound of comprehension: to see how the devil was conquered precisely when he was thought to be conquering, namely, when Christ was crucified. For at that moment the blood of him who had no sin at all, was shed for the remission of our sins (Matthew 26:28, 1 John 3:5). The devil deservedly held those whom he had bound by sin to the condition of death. So it happened that One who was guilty of no sin freed them justly from this condemnation (Hebrews 2:14). The strong man was conquered by this paradoxical justice and bound by this chain, that his vessels [booty] might be taken away. Those vessels which had been vessels of wrath were turned into vessels of mercy (Romans 9:22-23)." (excerpt ON THE TRINITY 13.15.19)4
The Word Among Us Meditation on Hebrews 9:15, 24-28 asks Why did Jesus have to suffer and die for us? Couldn’t God have saved us without such a heavy sacrifice? So how did Aquinas answer the question above? By telling us that Jesus had to die not only “as a remedy for sin,” but also “as an example” for us. Here is how he explained it.
“If you seek the example of love: Greater love than this no man has, than to lay down his life for his friends. . . . If Christ gave his life for us, then it should not be difficult to bear whatever hardships arise for his sake.
“If you seek patience, you will find no better example than the cross. Great patience occurs in two ways: either when we patiently suffer much, or when we suffer things we are able to avoid but don’t avoid. Christ endured much on the cross, and did so patiently. . . .5
A Post by Franciscan Media is a reflection on the life of St. Thomas Aquinas.
We can look to Thomas Aquinas as a towering example of Catholicism in the sense of broadness, universality, and inclusiveness. We should be determined anew to exercise the divine gift of reason in us, our power to know, learn, and understand. At the same time we should thank God for the gift of his revelation, especially in Jesus Christ.6
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares the work of Christian theologian and friend Amos Smith, who offers some very helpful context to help us understand the early (Desert Fathers and Mothers) Christians. Our Christian tradition contains the work of many to put in words our relationship with God.
The Alexandrian Mystics were predominantly Miaphysite (one united dynamic nature in both Jesus and in us). Jesus is the Great Includer and we are the endlessly included. They were also hesychasts [practicing a form of contemplative prayer that focused on clearing the mind of all thoughts and sensory distractions]. These monks and monk-bishops predate the split between Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy (1054). They also predate the Oriental Orthodox split that eventually followed the Council of Chalcedon (451), so they rightfully belong to the early Church universal. . 7
Our search for answers is greatly assisted by their efforts.
References
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(n.d.). Hebrews, chapter 9 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved January 28, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/9
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(n.d.). Mark, chapter 3 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved January 28, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/mark/3
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(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved January 28, 2019, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
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(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 28, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
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(n.d.). Saint Thomas Aquinas - Franciscan Media. Retrieved January 28, 2019, from https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-thomas-aquinas/
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(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archives — Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 28, 2019, from https://cac.org/category/daily-meditations/
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