The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to be a witness to our journey to fullness of life as we build relationships in our community.
Witness to full life
The reading from the Letter to the Hebrews celebrates a New Covenant.
* [12:18–29] As a final appeal for adherence to Christian teaching, the two covenants, of Moses and of Christ, are compared. The Mosaic covenant, the author argues, is shown to have originated in fear of God and threats of divine punishment (Heb 12:18–21). The covenant in Christ gives us direct access to God (Heb 12:22), makes us members of the Christian community, God’s children, a sanctified people (Heb 12:23), who have Jesus as mediator to speak for us (Heb 12:24).1
Psalm 48 praises the Glory and Strength of Zion.
* [Psalm 48] A Zion hymn, praising the holy city as the invincible dwelling place of God. Unconquerable, it is an apt symbol of God who has defeated all enemies. After seven epithets describing the city (Ps 48:2–3), the Psalm describes the victory by the Divine Warrior over hostile kings (Ps 48:4–8). The second half proclaims the dominion of the God of Zion over all the earth (Ps 48:9–12) and invites pilgrims to announce that God is eternally invincible like Zion itself (Ps 48:13–14).2
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus initiates the Mission of the Twelve.
* [6:7–13] The preparation for the mission of the Twelve is seen in the call (1) of the first disciples to be fishers of men (Mk 1:16–20), (2) then of the Twelve set apart to be with Jesus and to receive authority to preach and expel demons (Mk 3:13–19). Now they are given the specific mission to exercise that authority in word and power as representatives of Jesus during the time of their formation.3
Angela Maynard comments that Jesus expects people to listen to the preaching of his apostles, but clearly understands that not all will do so. Jesus calls us to care for each other throughout the gospels. This can translate simply to treating each other with kindness and generosity and dignity.
I’m going to go back to the teachings of from my beloved Sisters of Mercy. Let us take some time to reflect on the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy. I believe these can serve us well when determining how to care for and welcome those we know and those who may be a stranger to us.4
Works of Mercy
Don Schwager quotes “Jesus gives them power to heal and cast out evil spirits,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).
"The grace bestowed upon the holy apostles is worthy of all admiration. But the bountifulness of the Giver surpasses all praise and admiration. He gives them, as I said, his own glory. They receive authority over the evil spirits. They reduce to nothing the pride of the devil that was so highly exalted and arrogant. They render ineffectual the demon's wickedness. By the might and efficacy of the Holy Spirit, burning them as if they were on fire, they make the devil come forth with groans and weeping from those whom he had possessed... "He glorified his disciples, therefore, by giving them authority and power over the evil spirits and over sicknesses. Did he honor them without reason and make them famous without any logical cause? How can this be true? It was necessary, most necessary, that they should be able to work miracles, having been publicly appointed ministers of sacred proclamations. By means of their works, they then could convince men that they were the ministers of God and mediators of all beneath the heaven. The apostles then could invite them all to reconciliation and justification by faith and point out the way of salvation and of life that is this justification." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 47)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on Hebrews 12:18-19, 21-24 comments that everyone can approach God in prayer and expect to be heard. This means that, like the apostles in today’s Gospel, we can be God’s representative, a bearer of his peace wherever we go.
Primarily, we are marked by confidence. We can be secure in God’s love for us. We don’t need to compete with each other or jockey for that position. This means we can live and worship in harmony, voices blending rather than trying to distinguish themselves from the crowd. We can step forward to serve without worrying that we will fail. And we can respectfully step aside to let someone else freely exercise their gifts in their own unique way. We can ask Jesus to help us see how deeply he treasures each brother and sister.6
James Hanvey SJ is interviewed by Jan Regner SJ as he comments on four components of Fratelli tutti.
Exploring Fratelli tutti: 1. Freedom, joy and friendship
Exploring Fratelli tutti: 2. Politics and the common good
Exploring Fratelli tutti: 3. Seeing with God’s eyes
Exploring Fratelli tutti: 4. Finding Christ in the world7
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the message of the author of Hebrews about the New Covenant surpassing the glory of the Hebrew Covenant. The mission of apostles is to preach, exorcise demons, and heal. Friar Jude reminds us to work as a community in evangelization and be sensitive to the timing of God’s gift of faith.
Brian McLaren comments that God is Mystery and not any “thing” we can wrap our little brains around. He shares how he realized this during a time of deep doubt and perplexity in his life.
A verse I had memorized in my childhood came to mind: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding” [Proverbs 3:5]. For the first time, it dawned on me: there’s a difference between doubting God and doubting my understanding of God, just as there’s a difference between trusting God and trusting my understanding of God. Would I be able to doubt my understanding of God while simultaneously trusting God beyond my understanding? In a strange way, that question for the first time in my life allowed me to see God as a mystery distinct from my concepts of God. [1]8
Through our relationships with others, we learn to be humble and merciful in our action as followers of Christ.
References
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