The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to explore the painful and pitiful events of our lives for signs of Divine Presence in our journey.
In the reading from the Second Book of Samuel, David mourns for Saul and Jonathan.
Psalm 80 praises Divine Majesty and Human Dignity.
* [Psalm 80] A community lament in time of military defeat. Using the familiar image of Israel as a vineyard, the people complain that God has broken down the wall protecting the once splendid vine brought from Egypt (Ps 80:9–14). They pray that God will again turn to them and use the Davidic king to lead them to victory (Ps 80:15–19). (Psalms, PSALM 80 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is regarded as out of his mind.
* [3:20–35] Within the narrative of the coming of Jesus’ relatives (Mk 3:20–21) is inserted the account of the unbelieving scribes from Jerusalem who attributed Jesus’ power over demons to Beelzebul (Mk 3:22–30); see note on Mk 5:21–43. There were those even among the relatives of Jesus who disbelieved and regarded Jesus as out of his mind (Mk 3:21). Against this background, Jesus is informed of the arrival of his mother and brothers [and sisters] (Mk 3:32). He responds by showing that not family ties but doing God’s will (Mk 3:35) is decisive in the kingdom; cf. note on Mt 12:46–50. (Mark, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)
Eileen Wirth asks how crazy do serious followers of Jesus have to be?
Hopefully we are willing to be at least a little crazy for Christ even if that just means stepping outside our convenience zones on behalf of others.
Within my parish, there’s a woman who accompanied a death row inmate on his road to execution. That’s beyond most of us but another friend spends hours overseeing health care for our refugee family and many others who help at homeless shelters or just reach out to relatives and friends in need. We can all incorporate at least one regular significant work of charity or justice into our lives.
We may even feel the radical Jesus hovering near us as we take a friend with dementia to coffee to give their caretaker a break. We can strive to be radically kind -- the craziness that Christ asks of all of us. (Wirth, 2024)
Don Schwager quotes “Jesus' worried kinfolk,” by Jerome (347-420 AD).
"In the Gospel we read that even his kinsfolk desired to bind him as one of weak mind (Mark 3:21). His opponents also reviled him saying, 'You are a Samaritan and have a devil' (John 8:48)." (excerpt from LETTER 108, TO EUSTOCHIUM) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 3:20-21 comments that some people might not understand us, but many will see our example and wonder what makes us tick. They may even ask us why we are different, because the witness of our lives has awakened a hunger for the Lord inside them. Francis, Maximilian, and many other saints show us this is true. Their way of life is still drawing people to faith today.
So keep on following the Lord and living a life of love and mercy, just as he did. Don’t be deterred if some people think you’re “out of your mind.” Because as you do your best to follow Jesus, you’ll be drawing other people to follow him as well.
“Lord, may I love you with fearless abandon, no matter what anyone else may think!” (Meditation on Mark 3:20-21, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler explores the reaction of David to news of the death of his “blood brother” Jonathan and Saul who tried to kill David. The Greek in Mark’s Gospel may be translated as “family” or “those who were to Jesus.” Friar Jude reminds us of instances in Mark’s Gospel where His followers are confused about His Mission that leads to the Cross.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that in Cole Arthur Riley’s book Black Liturgies, she prays for our capacity to hold together the extraordinary and the ordinary.
God of every beautiful thing,
Make us people of wonder. Show us how to hold on to nuance and vision when our souls become addicted to pain, to the unlovely. It is far easier to see the gloom and decay; so often it sings a louder song. Attune our hearts to the good still stirring in our midst, not that we would give ourselves to toxic positivity or neglect the pain of the world, but that we would be people capable of existing in the tension. Grant us habits of sacred pause. Let us marvel not just at the grand or majestic, but beauty’s name etched into every ordinary moment. Let the mundane swell with a mystery that makes us breathe deeper still. And by this, may we be sustained and kept from despair. Amen. (Rohr, 2024)
We contemplate our journey and seek understanding of how the aspects of life that are mysterious and confusing are often the Way to a closer relationship with God.
References
Mark, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 20, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/3?
Meditation on Mark 3:20-21. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved January 20, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/01/20/878488/
Psalms, PSALM 80 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 20, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/80?2
Rohr, R. (2024, January 20). Holding the Tension: Weekly Summary — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 20, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/holding-the-tension-weekly-summary/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). People Were Saying of Jesus, 'He Is beside Himself'. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 20, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=jan20
2 Samuel, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 20, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2samuel/1?1
Wirth, E. (2024, January 20). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Online Ministries. Retrieved January 20, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/012024.html
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