Covenant confession confusion

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to connect a Covenant, a confession, and the meaning of the Cross.

On the Way

In the Book of Genesis, God declares a Covenant with Noah at the conclusion of the Great Flood.

* [9:8–17] God makes a covenant with Noah and his descendants and, remarkably, with all the animals who come out of the ark: never again shall the world be destroyed by flood. The sign of this solemn promise is the appearance of a rainbow.1 

In the Gospel from Mark, Peter voices a Confession About Jesus but has difficulty in the Prediction of Jesus Passion.

* [8:31] Son of Man: an enigmatic title. It is used in Dn 7:13–14 as a symbol of “the saints of the Most High,” the faithful Israelites who receive the everlasting kingdom from the Ancient One (God). They are represented by a human figure that contrasts with the various beasts who represent the previous kingdoms of the earth. In the Jewish apocryphal books of 1 Enoch and 4 Ezra the “Son of Man” is not, as in Daniel, a group, but a unique figure of extraordinary spiritual endowments, who will be revealed as the one through whom the everlasting kingdom decreed by God will be established. It is possible though doubtful that this individualization of the Son of Man figure had been made in Jesus’ time, and therefore his use of the title in that sense is questionable. Of itself, this expression means simply a human being, or, indefinitely, someone, and there are evidences of this use in pre-Christian times. Its use in the New Testament is probably due to Jesus’ speaking of himself in that way, “a human being,” and the later church’s taking this in the sense of the Jewish apocrypha and applying it to him with that meaning. Rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes: the supreme council called the Sanhedrin was made up of seventy-one members of these three groups and presided over by the high priest. It exercised authority over the Jews in religious matters. See note on Mt 8:20.2 

Mike Kavan shares the message that it is not easy to be a follower of Jesus. It can lead to pain, to struggle, and to suffering.

As we take up our cross and follow Jesus there will be struggle and there will be suffering. I pray that I am able to bear suffering and to understand and accept that it is not only essential for growth - physically, mentally, and spiritually, but essential in allowing me to better understand and follow Jesus who leads us to everlasting life.3 

Don Schwager quotes “Peter confesses that Jesus is God's Anointed Son and Savior of all,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).

 "You see the skillfulness of the question. He [Jesus] did not at once say, 'Who do you say that I am?' He refers to the rumor of those that were outside their company. Then, having rejected it and shown it unsound, he might bring them back to the true opinion. It happened that way. When the disciples had said, 'Some, John the Baptist, and others, Elijah, and others, that some prophet of those in old time has risen up,' he said to them, 'But you, who do you say that I am?' Oh! how full of meaning is that word you! He separates them from all others, that they may also avoid the opinions of others. In this way, they will not conceive an unworthy idea about him or entertain confused and wavering thoughts. Then they will not also imagine that John had risen again, or one of the prophets. 'You,' he says, 'who have been chosen,' who by my decree have been called to the apostleship, who are the witnesses of my miracles. Who do you say that I am?'" (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 49)4

The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 8:27-33 notes Peter knew that Jesus was the Messiah, but to him it meant that Jesus had supernatural power, a divine purpose, and a special relationship with God. He couldn’t imagine the deeper and more costly answer to this question that involved the cross.

Today, let the Spirit lead you to the cross. Let him lead you to deeper freedom—perhaps through repentance, through greater patience, or through stronger love. Listen for his still, small voice as he whispers words of encouragement and correction. Trust that as you follow him, he will lead you from death to life.5 

Friar Jude Winkler describes the changes in the Covenant with Moses compared to that with Adam and Eve. The Son of Man title of Jesus connects Him to the description of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah. Friar Jude comments on the difficulty of Jesus disciples to “get it” until they encounter the Cross.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares that the initial Incarnation actually happened around 14 billion years ago with “The Big Bang.” That is what we now call the moment when God decided to materialize and self-expose, at least in this universe.

 Most of Christian history has heard little or nothing about this timeless mystery, and we settled for a small tribal god instead. We put Jesus in competition with other religions instead of allowing him to ground the universal search for God in the material world itself, in nature, cosmos, and history—from the very beginnings of time. In other words, all creatures were capable of knowing and loving God long before the world religions formalized their doctrines and rituals (see Romans 1:20). Were the first millennia of human beings (San or Bushmen, Mayans, Celts, Aboriginals, and on and on) just trial runs and throwaways for a very inefficient God? That cannot be! God did not just start talking and loving 2,000 years ago. Infinite Love would never operate that way. “The Christ Mystery” proclaims that there is universal and equal access to God for all who have ever wanted love and union since the primal birth of humanity. In simple words, Stone Age people already had access to God!6

Interaction with God in Creation is a theme of Genesis that leads to our decision to live with the Son of Man who leads us in the Way of the Cross.

References

1	(n.d.). Genesis chapter 9 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Retrieved February 21, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/bible/Genesis/9:1
2	(n.d.). Mark, chapter 8 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved February 21, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/mark/8
3	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved February 21, 2019, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
4	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved February 21, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
5	(n.d.). Meditations - The Word Among Us. Retrieved February 21, 2019, from https://wau.org/meditations/2019/02/21
6	(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archives — Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved February 21, 2019, from https://cac.org/category/daily-meditations/2019/02/ /