The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today urge us to continue to be inspired by the Spirit to trust God to lead us to the fullness of Life.
The reading from the Letter to the Hebrews is a warning against unbelief.
* [3:7–4:13] The author appeals for steadfastness of faith in Jesus, basing his warning on the experience of Israel during the Exodus. In the Old Testament the Exodus had been invoked as a symbol of the return of Israel from the Babylonian exile (Is 42:9; 43:16–21; 51:9–11). In the New Testament the redemption was similarly understood as a new exodus, both in the experience of Jesus himself (Lk 9:31) and in that of his followers (1 Cor 10:1–4). The author cites Ps 95:7–11, a salutary example of hardness of heart, as a warning against the danger of growing weary and giving up the journey. To call God living (Heb 3:12) means that he reveals himself in his works (cf. Jos 3:10; Jer 10:11). The rest (Heb 3:11) into which Israel was to enter was only a foreshadowing of that rest to which Christians are called. They are to remember the example of Israel’s revolt in the desert that cost a whole generation the loss of the promised land (Heb 3:15–19; cf. Nm 14:20–29). In Heb 4:1–11, the symbol of rest is seen in deeper dimension: because the promise to the ancient Hebrews foreshadowed that given to Christians, it is good news; and because the promised land was the place of rest that God provided for his people, it was a share in his own rest, which he enjoyed after he had finished his creative work (Heb 3:3–4; cf. Gn 2:2). (Hebrews, CHAPTER 3, n.d.)
Psalm 95 is a call to Worship and Obedience.
* [Psalm 95] Twice the Psalm calls the people to praise and worship God (Ps 95:1–2, 6), the king of all creatures (Ps 95:3–5) and shepherd of the flock (Ps 95:7a, 7b). The last strophe warns the people to be more faithful than were their ancestors in the journey to the promised land (Ps 95:7c–11). This invitation to praise God regularly opens the Church’s official prayer, the Liturgy of the Hours. (Psalms, PSALM 95, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus cleanses a Leper.
* [1:40] A leper: for the various forms of skin disease, see Lv 13:1–50 and the note on Lv 13:2–4. There are only two instances in the Old Testament in which God is shown to have cured a leper (Nm 12:10–15; 2 Kgs 5:1–14). The law of Moses provided for the ritual purification of a leper. In curing the leper, Jesus assumes that the priests will reinstate the cured man into the religious community. See also note on Lk 5:14. (Mark, CHAPTER 1, n.d.)
Scott McClure comments that this encounter we read brings hope of such an encounter for us but even then, this is not a sure thing. Many pray for things that do not come to pass. Only a fraction of those who have made a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France have received a miraculous healing. If only these expressions of faith brought about the surety we seek. But there is another part of the equation; something else the leper can teach us:
If you wish… Here is the tough core of faith. Here is the surrender that defines faith – that active display of our trust in God that he knows our deepest desires and, himself, desires our greatest good. Not only this, but it is in such surrender that we come to imitate our Lord, Jesus Christ who lived out the same surrender in the Garden of Gethsemane. So, also, did Moses, Samuel, Peter, Andrew and all those who have so trusted in God. Let us keep their company and follow their example of surrender so that, if today we hear God’s voice, our hearts may receive him. (McClure, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Why did Jesus touch the leper,” by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD).
And why did [Jesus] touch him, since the law forbade the touching of a leper? He touched him to show that 'all things are clean to the clean' (Titus 1:15). Because the filth that is in one person does not adhere to others, nor does external uncleanness defile the clean of heart. So he touches him in his untouchability, that he might instruct us in humility; that he might teach us that we should despise no one, or abhor them, or regard them as pitiable, because of some wound of their body or some blemish for which they might be called to render an account... So, stretching forth his hand to touch, the leprosy immediately departs. The hand of the Lord is found to have touched not a leper, but a body made clean! Let us consider here, beloved, if there be anyone here that has the taint of leprosy in his soul, or the contamination of guilt in his heart? If he has, instantly adoring God, let him say: 'Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.' (excerpt from FRAGMENTS ON MATTHEW 2.2-3) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Hebrews 3:7-14 comments that one way we can encourage ourselves and one another to keep moving forward with the Lord, as the author of Hebrews exhorts us, is to pray with other people.
With a little creativity, you can find a few minutes to pray with someone. Perhaps you could set a time to call a friend every day or every week to spend just five minutes praying together on the phone. Or you could gather with some parishioners for a short time of prayer after daily Mass. You and your spouse might decide to pray together each night before going to bed. You could always ask the Holy Spirit to help you find the right approach. This small commitment can encourage you—and those you pray with—”today” and every day (Hebrews 3:13)!
“Lord, help me to find opportunities to pray with other people.” (Meditation on Hebrews 3:7-14, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the use of original texts by the author of Hebrews to address our faithfulness today and our eternal rest in the Lord. Jesus tries to avoid becoming the latest fad, rock star, or wonder healer. Friar Jude reminds us that Jesus desires to heal the deepest hurt of our hearts.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, reflects on what it means to respond to God’s call of love and justice for the common good.
Saints are those who wake up while in this world, instead of waiting for the next one. Francis of Assisi, William Wilberforce, Thérèse of Lisieux, and Harriet Tubman didn’t feel superior to anyone else; they just knew they had been let in on a big divine secret, and they wanted to do their part in revealing it.
God is calling every one and every thing, not just a few chosen ones, to God’s self (Genesis 8:15–17; Ephesians 1:9–10; Colossians 1:15–20). To get every one and every thing there, God first needs models and images who are willing to be “conformed to the body of his death” and transformed into the body of his resurrection (Philippians 3:10). These are the “new creation” (Galatians 6:15), and their transformed state is still seeping into history and ever so slowly transforming it into “life and life more abundantly” (John 10:10). (Rohr, n.d.)
When we have the opportunity to share the events of our spiritual journey with others we are strengthened against doubt and complacency that decreases our fullness of Life.
References
Hebrews, CHAPTER 3. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved January 12, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/3?7
Mark, CHAPTER 1. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved January 12, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/1?40=#49001040
McClure, S. (n.d.). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved January 12, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/011223.html
Meditation on Hebrews 3:7-14. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved January 12, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/01/12/582549/
Psalms, PSALM 95. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved January 12, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/95?6
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 12, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-call-to-awakening-2023-01-12/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Lord Jesus Can Make Me Clean. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 12, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=jan12
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