The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to ponder the effect our faith has on the path of our journey.
The reading from the Letter to the Hebrews summarizes the Faith of the Ancients.
* [11:40] So that without us they should not be made perfect: the heroes of the Old Testament obtained their recompense only after the saving work of Christ had been accomplished. Thus they already enjoy what Christians who are still struggling do not yet possess in its fullness. (Hebrews, CHAPTER 11, n.d.)
Psalm 31 offers prayer and praise for Deliverance from Enemies.
* [Psalm 31] A lament (Ps 31:2–19) with a strong emphasis on trust (Ps 31:4, 6, 15–16), ending with an anticipatory thanksgiving (Ps 31:20–24). As is usual in laments, the affliction is couched in general terms. The psalmist feels overwhelmed by evil people but trusts in the “God of truth” (Ps 31:6). (Psalms, PSALM 31, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus Heals the Gerasene Demoniac.
* [5:1] The territory of the Gerasenes: the reference is to pagan territory; cf. Is 65:1. Another reading is “Gadarenes”; see note on Mt 8:28.
* [5:2–6] The man was an outcast from society, dominated by unclean spirits (Mk 5:8, 13), living among the tombs. The prostration before Jesus (Mk 5:6) indicates Jesus’ power over evil spirits.
* [5:7] What have you to do with me?: cf. Mk 1:24 and see note on Jn 2:4.
* [5:9] Legion is my name: the demons were numerous and the condition of the possessed man was extremely serious; cf. Mt 12:45.
* [5:11] Herd of swine: see note on Mt 8:30.
* [5:19] Go home: Jesus did not accept the man’s request to remain with him as a disciple (Mk 5:18), yet invited him to announce to his own people what the Lord had done for him, i.e., proclaim the gospel message to his pagan family; cf. Mk 1:14, 39; 3:14; 13:10. (Mark, CHAPTER 5, n.d.)
Nancy Shirley, reflecting on Hebrews, asks what will be different for us from those who demonstrated such heroic actions?
Jesus! He is the ultimate sacrifice and gift from God – God’s own Son sent to redeem us all. No ongoing sacrifices – the Lamb of God is the One . . . . What a great reminder for me – we have been gifted with our redemption. Will we accept this Gift? Will we allow our faith to be reinforced by knowing that we have received everything that we need? How will we live a life without regrets and loving God with our whole hearts? (Shirley, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “The God-Man beheld,” by Gregory of Nazianzus (330 - 390 AD).
"Yes, he is recognized by demons (Luke 4:33-34, Mark 1:23-24), drives out demons (Matthew 8:16, Mark 1:34), drowns deep a legion of spirits (Matthew 8:32; Mark 5:9,13; Luke 8:30,33) and sees the prince of demons falling like lightning (Luke 10:18). He is stoned, yet not hit (John 8:59; 10:31,39); he prays yet he hears prayer (Matthew 8:13; Mark 1:35). He weeps (John 11:35), yet he puts an end to weeping (Luke 7:13; 8:522; 23:28). He asks where Lazarus is (John 11:34) - he was man; yet he raises Lazarus (John 11:43-44) - he was God." (excerpt from ORATION 29, ON THE SON 20) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 5:1-20 comments that the good news is that these stories don’t just happen in the Gospels. They have continued throughout history, and they still happen today! When people experience the touch of Jesus, they are changed. Sometimes the change is almost instantaneous, and at other times, it is more gradual but no less real.
Today, imagine that you have one minute of commercial time. Try to tell your before-and-after story. It could be something that happened years ago, or it could be something much more recent. Whatever it is, let it move you to praise the Lord. Let it also give you confidence that the Lord has more before-and-after stories planned for you. That’s because he never stops working in each one of our lives. And that, in itself, is amazing!
“Lord, thank you for the story of your love for me.” (Meditation on Mark 5:1-20, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler compares the passage from Hebrews to the celebration of the heroes of the faith in Sirach who put their trust in the Lord even as their lives were not easy. Jesus is exorcizing demons in pagan territory and as Mark foretells the profession of faith of the centurion under the Cross. Friar Jude notes that Jesus returns the possessed man to his family to proclaim what has happened to him.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that most of us are so invested in these first-half-of-life tasks by the age of forty that we can’t imagine there’s anything more to life. But if we stay there, it remains all about me. How can I be important? How can I be safe? How can I be significant? How can I make money? How can I look good? And how can I die a happy death and go to heaven? Religion itself becomes an evacuation plan for the next life, as my friend and colleague Brian McLaren says, because we don’t see much happening of depth or significance in this world. It largely remains a matter of survival.
I’m sad to say, after fifty-five years as a priest, I think a lot of Christians have never moved beyond survival questions, security questions, even securing their future in eternity. First-half-of-life religion is an insurance plan to ensure that future. In this stage, any sense of being a part of a cosmos, of being part of a historical sweep, that God is doing something bigger and better and larger than simply saving individual souls (and my own soul in particular) is largely of no interest to us. I don’t think I’m exaggerating. That’s all the first half of life can do.
It’s clear that if someone wants to be elected to a political office in the United States or any country, all they need to do is assure people of safety. Bill Plotkin, who’s been such a wonderful influence on so many people in recent decades, speaks of the first half of life as our survival dance, and the second half of life as our sacred dance. [1] Most people never get beyond their survival dance. It’s just identity questions, boundary questions, superiority questions, and security questions. We would call them ego questions, but they’re not questions of the soul. (Rohr, 2023)
We recall with gratitude the events that have most affected our relationship with God and the people we have met.
References
Hebrews, CHAPTER 11. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved January 30, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/11?32
Mark, CHAPTER 5. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved January 30, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/5?1=#49005001
Meditation on Mark 5:1-20. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved January 30, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/01/30/597792/
Psalms, PSALM 31. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved January 30, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/31?20
Rohr, R. (2023, January 30). Moving Beyond Survival — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 30, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/moving-beyond-survival-2023-01-30/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Tell Them How Much the Lord Has Done for You. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 30, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=jan30
Shirley, N. (2023, January 29). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved January 30, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/013023.html
No comments:
Post a Comment