The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to accept the sacrifice through which we experience healing by the Holy Spirit.
The reading from the Letter to the Hebrews proclaims the Sacrifice of Jesus.
* [9:23–28] Since the blood of animals became a cleansing symbol among Old Testament prefigurements, it was necessary that the realities foreshadowed be brought into being by a shedding of blood that was infinitely more effective by reason of its worth (Heb 9:23). Christ did not simply prefigure the heavenly realities (Heb 9:24) by performing an annual sacrifice with a blood not his own (Heb 9:25); he offered the single sacrifice of himself as the final annulment of sin (Heb 9:26). Just as death is the unrepeatable act that ends a person’s life, so Christ’s offering of himself for all is the unrepeatable sacrifice that has once for all achieved redemption (Heb 9:27–28).
* [9:26] At the end of the ages: the use of expressions such as this shows that the author of Hebrews, despite his interest in the Platonic concept of an eternal world above superior to temporal reality here below, nevertheless still clings to the Jewish Christian eschatology with its sequence of “the present age” and “the age to come.”
* [9:28] To take away the sins of many: the reference is to Is 53:12. Since the Greek verb anapherō can mean both “to take away” and “to bear,” the author no doubt intended to play upon both senses: Jesus took away sin by bearing it himself. See the similar wordplay in Jn 1:29. Many is used in the Semitic meaning of “all” in the inclusive sense, as in Mk 14:24. To those who eagerly await him: Jesus will appear a second time at the parousia, as the high priest reappeared on the Day of Atonement, emerging from the Holy of Holies, which he had entered to take away sin. This dramatic scene is described in Sir 50:5–11. (Hebrews, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 98 praises the Judge of the World.
* [Psalm 98] A hymn, similar to Ps 96, extolling God for Israel’s victory (Ps 98:1–3). All nations (Ps 98:4–6) and even inanimate nature (Ps 98:7–8) are summoned to welcome God’s coming to rule over the world (Ps 98:9). (Psalms, PSALM 98 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Mark separates Jesus and Beelzebul.
* [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.
* [3:20] He came home: cf. Mk 2:1–2 and see note on Mk 2:15.
* [3:22] By Beelzebul: see note on Mt 10:25. Two accusations are leveled against Jesus: (1) that he is possessed by an unclean spirit and (2) by the prince of demons he drives out demons. Jesus answers the second charge by a parable (Mk 3:24–27) and responds to the first charge in Mk 3:28–29.
* [3:29] Whoever blasphemes against the holy Spirit: this sin is called an everlasting sin because it attributes to Satan, who is the power of evil, what is actually the work of the holy Spirit, namely, victory over the demons. (Mark, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)
Kimberly Grassmeyer was struck by the passage that "Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands, a copy of the true one, but heaven itself". Can we even hope to imagine that 'real' sanctuary?
I've had my share of disappointments, to be sure, and sometimes I'm able to be open to the teaching and growth that comes from heartache. At other times I am angry and want to blame someone - human or God - because either I can't accept the presence of God in the moment, or I go turning over stones searching mightily but can't recognize God in anything, let alone in all things.
In either case - the times I can dream about myself with Christ in the 'real' sanctuary of heaven, and the times that I struggle to see and trust the work of God revealed in my life - God is with me and I am with God. Christ assured me of that gift and I am ever grateful for it. Likewise, God is with you, today and everyday. I pray that you believe it and feel it, too. Amen. (Grassmeyer, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “The cross of Christ as victory,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"It is not difficult, therefore, to see how the devil was conquered when he, who was slain by him, rose again. But there is something greater and more profound of comprehension: to see how the devil was conquered precisely when he was thought to be conquering, namely, when Christ was crucified. For at that moment the blood of him who had no sin at all, was shed for the remission of our sins (Matthew 26:28, 1 John 3:5). The devil deservedly held those whom he had bound by sin to the condition of death. So it happened that One who was guilty of no sin freed them justly from this condemnation (Hebrews 2:14). The strong man was conquered by this paradoxical justice and bound by this chain, that his vessels [booty] might be taken away. Those vessels which had been vessels of wrath were turned into vessels of mercy (Romans 9:22-23)." (excerpt ON THE TRINITY 13.15.19) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Hebrews 9:15, 24-28 comments that according to the Hebrew Bible, God made a covenant with Israel and gave the Law and Temple sacrifices to set his people apart and to reconcile them to himself when they strayed. But, the author tells us, Jesus is the mediator of a new covenant. He has fulfilled everything that the original covenant pointed toward!
“Jesus, because of the redemption you won for me, I am no longer condemned, no longer trapped in my transgressions (Hebrews 9:15). Your sacrifice has delivered me from the power of sin, and I can experience reconciliation and newness of life in you. Because you have freed me, I can look forward to an eternal inheritance—everlasting life with you. And that is something that you have given me access to, even today. I can’t begin to comprehend this, but I rejoice in the new covenant you have made with me!”
“Thank you, Jesus, for everything that you offer me in your new and eternal covenant!” (Meditation on Hebrews 9:15, 24-28, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the declaration in Hebrews of Jesus' sacrifice for eternity in the heavenly sanctuary. The Mass is our “entering into eternity” to be present at the moment of the Sacrifice of Christ. Friar Jude recalls the characterization of the blaspheme of sin against the Spirit expressed by John Paul II.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, offers one way we might understand the exorcisms Jesus performed.
In that sense, I’ve personally known a lot of possessed people. It’s no surprise that Jesus exorcised so many demons from people who seemed to carry the negative projections of the surrounding crowd (Luke 9:37–43), synagogue worshippers (Mark 1:21–27; Luke 13:10–17), or the Gerasene residents (Mark 5:1–20; Luke 8:26–39). The ancients were not as naive as we might think. In these stories, we see exactly what the internalization of negative judgment means. Such people do need healing, even a major “exorcism”! While we tend to send them to therapists instead of holy people, in general, the only cure for negative possession is a positive repossession! Jesus is always “repossessing” people—for themselves and for God. (Rohr, n.d.)
We are guided by the Spirit as we “enter into eternity” and receive healing in acceptance of Jesus' Way for our journey.
References
Grassmeyer, K. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Creighton University's Online Ministries. Retrieved January 27, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Archive/2017/012317.html
Hebrews, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 27, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/9?15
Mark, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 27, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/3?22
Meditation on Hebrews 9:15, 24-28. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved January 27, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/01/27/1188234/
Psalms, PSALM 98 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 27, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/98?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Possessed by the Wrong Perspective. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 27, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/possessed-by-the-wrong-perspective/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Jesus Frees Us from Satan's Power. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 27, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=jan27
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