Extraordinary Position

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to accept our call to be disciples of Jesus who are led by the Spirit to aspire to life beyond ordinary.

Unique Path

The reading from the Letter to the Hebrews proclaims the Sacrifice of Jesus to purify our conscience from dead works.

* [9:11–14] Christ, the high priest of the spiritual blessings foreshadowed in the Old Testament sanctuary, has actually entered the true sanctuary of heaven that is not of human making (Heb 9:11). His place there is permanent, and his offering is his own blood that won eternal redemption (Heb 9:12). If the sacrifice of animals could bestow legal purification (Heb 9:13), how much more effective is the blood of the sinless, divine Christ who spontaneously offered himself to purge the human race of sin and render it fit for the service of God (Heb 9:14). (Hebrews, CHAPTER 9, n.d.)

Psalm 47 praises God’s Rule over the Nations.

* [Psalm 47] A hymn calling on the nations to acknowledge the universal rule of Israel’s God (Ps 47:2–5) who is enthroned as king over Israel and the nations (Ps 47:6–9). (Psalms, PSALM 47, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Mark, the Blasphemy of the Scribes follows the assertion that ‘He has gone 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). (Mark, CHAPTER 3, n.d.)

Mirielle Mason comments that we know Jesus hears this advice, but what does He do with it? He appreciates it, but respectfully declines it and teaches a lesson. When faced with difficulty within a family we must set boundaries, and do so compassionately yet firmly.

Lastly, I am reminded that family is not determined by blood. We choose our family. We may choose the people genetically related to us, or we may not. In this scripture, Jesus makes very clear that the disciples are his companions, and all who do the will of God are family to Him. Not all of us are blessed with a healthy nuclear family. Sometimes, we have to search for one. I would like to encourage those in this situation to be empowered, instead of burdened, by this choice. Those who are true family make themselves known, and we should never forget that we all have a family in Christ and His followers. (Mason, n.d.)

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, in some ways, God still remains “hidden” today—in his followers. He doesn’t always reveal himself in flashy demonstrations of power or bursts of heavenly glory. But he does reveal himself in the ordinary, in our works of love and mercy. These works won’t bring you power, fame, or wealth, but that’s okay. There’s a different power at work in those who minister in his name, the power to change human hearts.

So seek out the Lord Jesus hidden in the Eucharist, in the priest hearing your confession, in the prayerful reading of the Bible, and in parents loving their families. Find him in a friend’s compassion, in your spouse’s patience, and in the distressing disguise of the poor. Jesus is there. He sees and inhabits them all. He sees and values your own hidden sacrifices, too. He is humble enough to be “hidden” within you.

“Jesus, open my eyes to see you. Make me like you, Lord.” (Meditation on Mark 3:20-21, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on how the passage from Hebrews compares the Holy of Holies in the sanctuary to sanctification in the Blood of Jesus. The Gospel from Good Friday details how Jesus opened the veil separating the people from God. Friar Jude reminds us of the sword piercing the thoughts of Mary as the Son of God is revealed in her child.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, offers “I Am” by poet Dedan Gills (1945–2015) as a contemplation on the theme of Nothing Stands Alone.

 

I am old and wise as the night. I am as beautiful as a bird in flight.

I am the moon and the sea. I am the robin and the bee. I am the soil and I am the tree.

I’m the lion and the gazelle. I am heaven and I am hell. I am the ring and I am the bell.

I am the joy and I am the tear. I am the brave and I am the fear.

I am the blistering desert. I’m the freezing snow.

I’m the cringing coward and the gentle hero.

I’m the aged and I am the young. I am the weak and I am the strong.

I am the smile and I am the frown. I am the pauper and I am the crown.

I am the wrong and I am the right. I am the day and I am the night.

I am now and I am never. I am yesterday and I am forever.

I am the bitter and I am the sweet. I live on the hill and I live on the street.

I am the top and I am the bottom. I am Martin, Hitler, Gandhi, and Saddam.

I am red, black, yellow, brown, and white. I love, hate, laugh, cry, and fight.

All the universe is reflected in me. I am all that ever was and ever will be.

When I lose, it’s the lesson that I win. Judging others is my sin. (Rohr, 2022)

We trust that seeking to live with extraordinary love and compassion is our mission regardless of cultural claims of impracticality and foolishness.

References

Hebrews, CHAPTER 9. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved January 21, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/9?2 

Mark, CHAPTER 3. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved January 21, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/3 

Mason, M. (n.d.). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved January 21, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/012123.html 

Meditation on Mark 3:20-21. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved January 21, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/01/21/589074/ 

Psalms, PSALM 47. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved January 21, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/47?2 

Rohr, R. (2022, December 31). Summary: Nothing Stands Alone: Weekly Summary — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 21, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/summary-nothing-stands-alone-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 21, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=jan21 

Worship and Healing Presence

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to contemplate the connection between worship in the Presence of God and our mission to the “poor in Spirit”.

Thin places

The reading from the First Book of Kings details the celebration when Solomon dedicated the Temple.

 * [8:12–13] This brief poem is rich in layered meanings. The “dark cloud” in which the Lord intends to dwell refers not only to the cloud that filled the Temple (v. 10) but to the darkness of the windowless holy of holies and to the mystery of the God enthroned invisibly upon the cherubim as well. Solomon calls the Temple he offers God a firm base, using terminology similar to that used for God’s firm establishment of Solomon’s own kingdom (2:12, 46). Finally, Solomon intends this as a place for God to yashab, but the Hebrew word yashab can mean “to dwell” or “to sit.” In other words, the Temple can be understood both as a place where God resides and as the earthly foundation of God’s heavenly throne. The double meaning allows an understanding of the divine presence as both transcendent and graciously immanent. See Solomon’s sentiments in 8:27, and the frequent reference in 8:30–52 to God’s hearing in heaven prayers that were offered in or toward the Temple.1

Psalm 132 asks that David’s care for the proper housing of the ark be regarded with favor, and tells how it was brought to Jerusalem.

* [Psalm 132] A song for a liturgical ceremony in which the ark, the throne of Israel’s God, was carried in procession to the Temple. The singer asks that David’s care for the proper housing of the ark be regarded with favor (Ps 132:1–5), and tells how it was brought to Jerusalem (Ps 132:6–10). There follows God’s promise of favor to the Davidic dynasty (Ps 132:11–12) and to Zion (Ps 132:13–17). The transfer of the ark to the tent in Jerusalem is described in 2 Sm 6.2 

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is healing the sick in Gennesaret.

begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak;and as many as touched it were healed.3 

Chas Kestermeier, S.J. comments that those who eventually became His apostles clung to Jesus for more than that physical reward. They listened, asked questions, slowly learned what He was trying to tell them, and even got to the point that they could say that they loved Him (John 21:15-17). The women who accompanied Jesus and His disciples were very similar to the men in this; think of Mary of Magdala (John 20:11-16).

 This leads me to ask what my own deepest hunger and thirst is when it comes to Jesus and whether I have gotten beyond asking for more than healing and peace from Him.  Do I seek to know His heart and to give Him my own heart? To become always more like Him in every way possible? 4

Don Schwager quotes “Christ's wounds bring healing and life,” by Ambrose of Milan, 339-397 A.D.

 "The Lord of hosts was not signaling weakness as he gave sight to the blind, made the crooked to stand upright, raised the dead to life (Matthew 11:5), anticipated the effects of medicine at our prayers, and cured those who sought after him. Those who merely touched the fringe of his robe were healed (Mark 6:56). Surely you did not think it was some divine weakness, you speculators, when you saw him wounded. Indeed there were wounds that pierced his body (Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:33; John 19:18, 31-37), but they did not demonstrate weakness but strength. For from these wounds flowed life to all, from the One who was the life of all." (excerpt from ON THE CHRISTIAN FAITH 4.5.54–55.16)5

The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 6:53-56 reflects that there are still crowds of people today just as hungry to encounter Jesus. So many people yearn to hear that God is real, that he loves them, and that he can touch and heal them—in heart, mind, and body. But it’s up to us to reach out to them.

Deeply moved by this woman’s story, Linda felt herself welling up with compassion. She offered to pray with the woman—nothing fancy, just a simple prayer: “Jesus, I invite you into my life and into these situations. Help me to know that you are with me.” Gazing at the tabernacle, the woman began to experience Jesus’ presence and comfort. It was a bittersweet but holy encounter, and it led the woman to tears. Her problems didn’t dissolve, but she could sense Jesus with her in them.6 

Friar Jude Winkler discusses places on earth where we are close to the Presence of God (“thin places” in Celtic Tradition) as he describes the “holy of holies” in the Temple. The reaction of the crowds to Jesus in Gennesaret is contrasted to Nazareth. Friar Jude suggests that we often have difficulty in seeking the holiness and gifts of those close to us.

A post by Franciscan Media reflects on the faith of Saint Scholastica, Saint of the Day for February 10.

 Scholastica and Benedict gave themselves totally to God and gave top priority to deepening their friendship with him through prayer. They sacrificed some of the opportunities they would have had to be together as brother and sister in order better to fulfill their vocation to the religious life. In coming closer to Christ, however, they found they were also closer to each other. In joining a religious community, they did not forget or forsake their family but rather found more brothers and sisters.7

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that the vast majority of people throughout history have been poor, disabled, or oppressed in some way (i.e., “on the bottom”) and would have read history in terms of a need for change, but most of history has been written and interpreted from the side of the winners. The unique exception is the revelation called the Bible, which is an alternative history from the side of the often enslaved, dominated, and oppressed people of Israel, culminating in the scapegoat figure of Jesus himself.

 When Scripture is read through the eyes of vulnerability—what we call the “preferential option for the poor” or the “bias from the bottom”—it will always be liberating and transformative. Scripture will not be used to oppress or impress. The question is no longer, “How can I maintain the status quo?” (which just happens to benefit me), but “How can we all grow and change together?” Now we would have no top to protect, and the so-called “bottom” becomes the place of education, real change, and transformation for all. 
The bottom, or what Jesus called “the poor in Spirit” in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3), is where we have no privilege to prove or protect but much to seek and become. Jesus called such people “blessed.” Dorothy Day (1897–1980) said much the same: “The only way to live in any true security is to live so close to the bottom that when you fall you do not have far to drop, you do not have much to lose.” [1] From that place, where few would expect or choose to be, we can be used as instruments of transformation and liberation for the rest of the world.8

May our connection with Jesus through the Scripture and our “thin places” alert us to the prompts of the Spirit to attend to the life and inspiration of those “on the bottom”.

References

1	(n.d.). 1 Kings, chapter 8 - United States Conference. Retrieved February 10, 2020, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/1kings/8
2	(n.d.). Psalms, chapter 132 - United States Conference. Retrieved February 10, 2020, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/132
3	(n.d.). Mark, chapter 6 - United States Conference. Retrieved February 10, 2020, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/mark/6
4	(n.d.). Daily Reflections - OnlineMinistries .... Retrieved February 10, 2020, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved February 10, 2020, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
6	(n.d.). Saint Scholastica, Virgin (Memorial) - Mass Readings and .... Retrieved February 10, 2020, from https://wau.org/meditations/2020/2/10/
7	(n.d.). Saint Scholastica - Franciscan Media. Retrieved February 10, 2020, from https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-scholastica/
8	(2020, February 10). Knowing From the Bottom — Center for Action and .... Retrieved February 10, 2020, from https://cac.org/knowing-from-the-bottom-2020-02-10/

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