The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate how our Baptismal anointing as priest is clarified by the Spirit in the life of Jesus.
The reading from the Letter to the Hebrews proclaims Jesus Priesthood.
* [5:1–10] The true humanity of Jesus (see note on Heb 2:5–18) makes him a more rather than a less effective high priest to the Christian community. In Old Testament tradition, the high priest was identified with the people, guilty of personal sin just as they were (Heb 5:1–3). Even so, the office was of divine appointment (Heb 5:4), as was also the case with the sinless Christ (Heb 5:5). For Heb 5:6, see note on Ps 110:4. Although Jesus was Son of God, he was destined as a human being to learn obedience by accepting the suffering he had to endure (Heb 5:8). Because of his perfection through this experience of human suffering, he is the cause of salvation for all (Heb 5:9), a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek (Heb 5:10; cf. Heb 5:6 and Heb 7:3). (Hebrews, CHAPTER 5, n.d.)
Psalm 110 offers assurance of victory for God’s Priest-King.
* [Psalm 110] A royal Psalm in which a court singer recites three oracles in which God assures the king that his enemies are conquered (Ps 110:1–2), makes the king “son” in traditional adoption language (Ps 110:3), gives priestly status to the king and promises to be with him in future military ventures (Ps 110:4–7). (Psalms, PSALM 110, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus addresses the question about fasting.
* [2:19] Can the wedding guests fast?: the bridal metaphor expresses a new relationship of love between God and his people in the person and mission of Jesus to his disciples. It is the inauguration of the new and joyful messianic time of fulfillment and the passing of the old. Any attempt at assimilating the Pharisaic practice of fasting, or of extending the preparatory discipline of John’s disciples beyond the arrival of the bridegroom, would be as futile as sewing a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak or pouring new wine into old wineskins with the resulting destruction of both cloth and wine (Mk 2:21–22). Fasting is rendered superfluous during the earthly ministry of Jesus; cf. Mk 2:20. (Mark, CHAPTER 2, n.d.)
Mike Cherney sees this Gospel as a reminder of how Jesus spends his time. He is reminded that He is present for bringing sinners back to God rather than concentrating on acts of piousness. He sees in this passage His attempt to make clear that there is a new message that does not fit in the old packaging. This serves as the focus of his prayer today.
Dear Lord,
Too often I fall into the self-righteousness of the Pharisees.
Life is so short; at the end of each day, I see how much of my time has been poorly spent.
Guide me in investing time in the things that really matter.
Strengthen my conscious awareness of the service that makes this world a better place.
Help me to embrace the new message that Jesus brings. (Cherney, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “The presence of the Bridegroom,” by Bede the Venerable, 672-735 A.D.
"From the time that the incarnation of our Savior was first promised to the patriarchs, it was always awaited by many upright souls with tears and mourning - until he came. From that time when, after his resurrection, he ascended to heaven, all the hope of the saints hangs upon his return. It was at the time when he was keeping company with humanity that his presence was to be celebrated. Then it would have been unfitting to weep and mourn. For like the bride, she had him with her bodily whom she loved spiritually. Therefore the bridegroom is Christ, the bride is the church, and the friends of the bridegroom (Matthew 9:15, Luke 5:34) and of the marriage are each and every one of his faithful companions. The time of his marriage is that time when, through the mystery of the incarnation, he is joining the holy church to himself (Revelation 19:7). Thus it was not by chance, but for the sake of a certain mystical meaning that he came to a marriage ceremony on earth in the customary fleshly way (John 2:1-12), since he descended from heaven to earth in order to wed the church to himself in spiritual love. His nuptial chamber was the womb of his virgin mother. There God was conjoined with human nature. From there he came forth like a bridegroom to join the church to himself."(excerpt from HOMILIES ON THE GOSPELS 1.14) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 2:18-22 comments that we fast on certain days of Lent so that we can rejoice with the risen Lord at Easter. We fast before Mass so that we can increase our hunger for Jesus in the Eucharist. Even in our normal everyday lives, there are ways we can “fast” that have nothing to do with food. Whether we turn off social media for a time or change what we listen to on our morning commute or try to avoid idle gossip, we are emptying ourselves out so that God can fill us.
Is fasting fun? Usually not. But just think about some of the blessings that fasting can bring to you. A passage from Scripture can come to life as you spend extra time pondering it. Feeling your physical emptiness can open you up to a deeper experience of the Lord’s consolation. You might just need to put aside a few comforts so that you can find him again. And when you do—oh, the joy you will feel!
“Lord, help me open myself to you. Give me a hunger for your presence!” (Meditation on Mark 2:18-22, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler identifies two techniques from Jewish interpretation of Scripture in the texts today. A quote from Scripture is used in a new context in a presentation and truth that exists in a smaller context, becomes truth in a larger example. Friar Jude touches on the Jewish tradition of avoiding mixing and the marriage feast connection of the Comments of Mark on new patches and new wine.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, in a 2006 CAC conference, identified the prophet as one who places issues in the context of the “big picture”. When he went to the Martin Luther King Jr. exhibit, he found it obvious that Dr. King was a biblical prophet who put racism and segregation in the big context of the kingdom of God. In Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Beyond Vietnam” speech, he spoke from the “big frame” to call for a revolution of values based on love.
This call for a worldwide fellowship that lifts neighborly concern beyond one’s tribe, race, class, and nation is in reality a call for an all-embracing and unconditional love for all [humankind].… When I speak of love I am not speaking of some sentimental and weak response. I’m not speaking of that force which is just emotional bosh. I am speaking of that force which all of the great religions have seen as the supreme unifying principle of life. Love is somehow the key that unlocks the door which leads to ultimate reality. This Hindu-Muslim-Christian-Jewish-Buddhist belief about ultimate reality is beautifully summed up in the first epistle of Saint John: “Let us love one another, for love is of God. And everyone that loveth is born of God and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God, for God is love.… If we love one another, God dwelleth in us and [God’s] love is perfected in us” [1 John 4:7–8, 12]. Let us hope that this spirit will become the order of the day. [2] (Rohr, 2019)
We are baptized priest, prophet, and leader and the Spirit inspires our piety, study, and action to bring fullness of life on our journey.
References
Cherney, M. (n.d.). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved January 16, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/011623.html
Hebrews, CHAPTER 5. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved January 16, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/5?1
Mark, CHAPTER 2. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved January 16, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/2?18
Meditation on Mark 2:18-22. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved January 16, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/01/16/585630/
Psalms, PSALM 110. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved January 16, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/110?1
Rohr, R. (2019, September 26). Big Picture Thinkers. Daily Meditations Archive: 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/big-picture-thinkers-2023-01-16/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Fasting or Feasting? Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 16, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=jan16
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