Trust and Healing

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today alert us to the need for patient acceptance of events that seem to be in conflict with our faithful relationship with God as we trust in a loving healing of our distress.

Healing and Trust

In the reading from the Second Book of Samuel, David Mourns for Absalom.

Psalm 86 is supplication for help against Enemies.

* [Psalm 86] An individual lament. The psalmist, “poor and oppressed” (Ps 86:1), “devoted” (Ps 86:2), “your servant” (Ps 86:2, 4, 16), “rescued…from the depths of Sheol” (Ps 86:13), attacked by the ruthless (Ps 86:14), desires only God’s protection (Ps 86:1–7, 11–17). (Psalms, PSALM 86 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Mark, a girl is restored to Life and a woman healed.

* [5:21–43] The story of the raising to life of Jairus’s daughter is divided into two parts: Mk 5:21–24; 5:35–43. Between these two separated parts the account of the cure of the hemorrhage victim (Mk 5:25–34) is interposed. This technique of intercalating or sandwiching one story within another occurs several times in Mk 3:19b–21; Mk 3:22–30; 3:31–35; 6:6b–13; 6:14–29; 6:30; 11:12–14; 11:15–19; 11:20–25; 14:53; 14:54; 14:55–65; 14:66–73.

* [5:23] Lay your hands on her: this act for the purpose of healing is frequent in Mk 6:5; 7:32–35; 8:23–25; 16:18 and is also found in Mt 9:18; Lk 4:40; 13:13; Acts 9:17; 28:8.

* [5:28] Both in the case of Jairus and his daughter (Mk 5:23) and in the case of the hemorrhage victim, the inner conviction that physical contact (Mk 5:30) accompanied by faith in Jesus’ saving power could effect a cure was rewarded.

* [5:35] The faith of Jairus was put to a twofold test: (1) that his daughter might be cured and, now that she had died, (2) that she might be restored to life. His faith contrasts with the lack of faith of the crowd.

* [5:39] Not dead but asleep: the New Testament often refers to death as sleep (Mt 27:52; Jn 11:11; 1 Cor 15:6; 1 Thes 4:13–15); see note on Mt 9:24. 

* [5:41] Arise: the Greek verb egeirein is the verb generally used to express resurrection from death (Mk 6:14, 16; Mt 11:5; Lk 7:14) and Jesus’ own resurrection (Mk 16:6; Mt 28:6; Lk 24:6). (Mark, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB, n.d.)

George Butterfield (2014) comments that in the Gospel today both fathers reach out to men who they believe can help, men they trust. The first man’s hopes are dashed. The second man celebrates.

David trusted Joab and he failed David in one of the most important episodes of his life. Jairus trusted Jesus and saw Death flee from the presence of He who is Life. The heading for Psalm 86 is “A prayer of David.” We do not know when in his life he prayed this prayer. We only know that, by now, he knows what Jairus knew. He knew that it makes a difference where you place your trust. He declares: You are my God. I trust in you. (Butterfield, 2024)

Don Schwager quotes “The long-suffering of parents,” by Peter Chrysologus (400-450 AD).

"Let us, if it is pleasing to you, speak for a moment of the pains and anxieties which parents take upon themselves and endure in patience out of love and affection for their children. Here, surrounded by her family and by the sympathy and affection of her relations, a daughter lies upon her bed of suffering. She is fading in body. Her father's mind and spirit are worn with grief. She is suffering the inward pangs of her sickness. He, unwashed, unkempt, is absorbed wholly in sorrow. He suffers and endures before the eyes of the world. She is sinking into the quiet of death... Alas! why are children indifferent to these things! Why are they not mindful of them? Why are they not eager to make a return to their parents for them? But the love of parents goes on nevertheless; and whatever parents bestow upon their children, God, the parent of us all, will duly repay." (excerpt from SERMON 33.2)

[Peter Chrysologus, 400-450 AD, was a renowned preacher and bishop of Ravena in the 5th century] (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 5:21-43 comments that we may experience seasons when life is challenging, and we feel discouraged, much like the suffering woman. Maybe we have exhausted all other options and are losing hope that God cares about our pain. At these moments, we can remember the woman’s perseverance and tenacity as she pushed her way through the crowds to reach out to Jesus. We can trust that God does hear our cries. He will give us the strength we need.

Jairus and the hemorrhaging woman sought out Jesus because of the circumstances in their lives. They needed him that day by the Sea of Galilee, and they would always need him. And so will we. This is why Jesus came.

Whatever your current circumstances, go to the Lord today and confess your need for him. In that honest place, he will always meet you.

“Father, I need you. I know that if I reach out my hand to you, you will lift me up.” (Meditation on Mark 5:21-43, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the story of the death of Absalom and the deep remorse of David and the wish of the parent to change places with the son. The two healings of the Gospel are presented within a Marken sandwich. The presentation of these events in Luke omits the reference to failed doctors and the message in Mark that Jesus did not know all things. The reanimation of Jarius' daughter is not a resurrection because she will eventually die.

Brian McLaren points to the difference between domination and dominion in the Bible.

The book of Genesis is often blamed for the domination story because, in the Garden of Eden story, human beings are given dominion over the rest of creation (Genesis 1:28). People assume dominion means domination, but I don’t think you have to read the story that way. The nature of God in the first creation story isn’t God dominating and forcing the world into a certain mold. It is “Let there be light.” It’s a permission-giving power.

It’s such a fascinating phrase: “Let there be light.” And also “Let there be land, let there be sea, let there be crawling creatures, let there be fish, let there be humans.” It’s a permission-giving rather than a domination. Then when human beings are made in the image of God, and God says, “You can have dominion,” we would expect it should be the same kind of gentle presence rather than a dominating, controlling, exploiting presence. It’s not “Let there be exploitation.” It’s very, very different. [3] (McLaren, n.d.)

We are reminded to hold to our trust in God even as it might be questioned during the times in which we experience great suffering or anxiety for our loved ones.

References

Butterfield, G. (2024, January 30). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved January 30, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/013024.html 

Mark, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 30, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/5?21 

McLaren, B. (n.d.). The Story of Domination. Wikipedia. Retrieved January 30, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-story-of-domination/ 

Meditation on Mark 5:21-43. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved January 30, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/01/30/885407/ 

Psalms, PSALM 86 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 30, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/86?1 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Woman Who Took Heart in Jesus. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 30, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=jan30 

2 Samuel, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 30, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2samuel/18?9 

Literal Trouble

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to go deeper in our understanding of the Way through the inspiration of Spirit in our study and action.

Love and Dominion

The reading from the Book of Genesis completes the Priestly tradition and begins another account of the Creation.

* [1:28] Fill the earth and subdue it: the object of the verb “subdue” may be not the earth as such but earth as the territory each nation must take for itself (chaps. 10–11), just as Israel will later do (see Nm 32:22, 29; Jos 18:1). The two divine commands define the basic tasks of the human race—to continue in existence through generation and to take possession of one’s God-given territory. The dual command would have had special meaning when Israel was in exile and deeply anxious about whether they would continue as a nation and return to their ancient territory. Have dominion: the whole human race is made in the “image” and “likeness” of God and has “dominion.” Comparable literature of the time used these words of kings rather than of human beings in general; human beings were invariably thought of as slaves of the gods created to provide menial service for the divine world. The royal language here does not, however, give human beings unlimited power, for kings in the Bible had limited dominion and were subject to prophetic critique.

* [1:29] According to the Priestly tradition, the human race was originally intended to live on plants and fruits as were the animals (see v. 30), an arrangement that God will later change (9:3) in view of the human inclination to violence. (Genesis, CHAPTER 1, n.d.)

Psalm 8 praises Divine Majesty and Human Dignity.

* [Psalm 8] While marvelling at the limitless grandeur of God (Ps 8:2–3), the psalmist is struck first by the smallness of human beings in creation (Ps 8:4–5), and then by the royal dignity and power that God has graciously bestowed upon them (Ps 8:6–9). (Psalms, PSALM 8, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus critiques the Tradition of the Elders.

* [7:1–23] See note on Mt 15:1–20. Against the Pharisees’ narrow, legalistic, and external practices of piety in matters of purification (Mk 7:2–5), external worship (Mk 7:6–7), and observance of commandments, Jesus sets in opposition the true moral intent of the divine law (Mk 7:8–13). But he goes beyond contrasting the law and Pharisaic interpretation of it. The parable of Mk 7:14–15 in effect sets aside the law itself in respect to clean and unclean food. He thereby opens the way for unity between Jew and Gentile in the kingdom of God, intimated by Jesus’ departure for pagan territory beyond Galilee. For similar contrast see Mk 2:1–3:6; 3:20–35; 6:1–6. (Mark, CHAPTER 7, n.d.)

Nicky Santos S.J. comments that the purity that we are invited to as disciples of Jesus is one that emanates from our heart and that is manifested by our love for our neighbor.

Ironically, this might mean getting dirty or as Pope Francis says, ‘getting our shoes muddied.’ The purity that the gospel advocates is one of being engaged with the messiness of our world, of fighting for justice and equity, of advocating for peace and reconciliation, of respecting human life in all its forms, of caring for the environment etc. (Santos, 2023)

Don Schwager quotes “Mammon refuses to provide for parents in old age,” by John Chrysostom (347-407 AD).

"Christ says, 'Care for the poor' (Matthew 19:21; Mark 10:21; Luke 14:13); Mammon says, 'Take away even those things the poor possess.' Christ says, 'Empty yourself of what you have' (Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23); Mammon says, 'Take also what they possess.' Do you see the opposition, the strife between them? See how it is that one cannot obey both, but must reject one?... Christ says, 'None of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions' (Luke 14:33); Mammon says, 'Take the bread from the hungry.' Christ says, 'Cover the naked' (Matthew 25:34-40; Isaiah 58:7); the other says, 'Strip the naked.' Christ says, 'You shall not turn away from your own family (Isaiah 58:7), and those of your own house' (1 Timothy 5:8; Galatians 6:10); Mammon says, 'You shall not show mercy to those of your own family. Though you see your mother or your father in want, despise them' (Mark 7:11)." (excerpt from HOMILIES ON PHILIPPIANS 6.25) (Schwager, 2022)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 7:1-13 asks how can we ensure that we are not “nullify[ing] the word of God” in favor of something less important (Mark 7:13)? Let’s reflect on some of the Beatitudes, which are among Jesus’ most important teachings, to see if we can find some helpful answers.

Allow God’s word, and not human traditions, to shape your perspective today. Let it help you leave behind any ways that keep you from following him with your whole heart.

“Lord, I want to trust you and rely on your ways.” (Meditation on Mark 7:1-13, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on some of the transitions of thought about God and Creation that are present in the Priestly account in Genesis that was authored during the Babylonian exile. The Hebrew expression of the superlative is applied to simultaneous creation of man and woman expressing a radical equality. Dominion is not a license to destroy but, like a child, to celebrate Creation. Friar Jude reminds us that we may tend to quote the Law as we prefer it, rather than the Law placed in our hearts by the Spirit.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, reflects on the “tricycle of faith” and emphasizes the importance of inner experience for true spiritual transformation.

 

The two wheels of Scripture and Tradition can be seen as sources of outer authority, while our personal experience leads to our inner authority. I am convinced we need and can have both. Only when inner and outer authority come together do we have true spiritual wisdom. Christianity in most of its history has largely relied upon outer authority. But we must now be honest about the value of inner experience, which of course was at work all the time but was not given credence. 

Information from outer authority is not necessarily transformation, and we need genuinely transformed people today, not just people with answers. I do not want my words in these meditations to separate anyone from their own astonishment or to provide them with a substitute for their own inner experience. Theology (and authority figures) have done that for too many. Rather, I hope my words—written or spoken—simply invite readers on their own inner journey rather than become a replacement for it. (Rohr, 2023)

Recently we watched the 1960 movie Inherit the Wind. The conflict between creation as presented in Genesis and the science of evolution as Darwin explains in “On the Origin of Species” comes to mind after contemplating the texts today. Perhaps we tend to select passages from Scripture and science to justify our point of view and perhaps miss the necessity to assess the whole picture with an open mind and considering our life experience. Students of Pope Francis' encyclical “Laudato Si” point out the limitation of our understanding of “dominion” in Genesis. “Stewardship” and even “kinship” are better descriptors of the relationship we need with Nature to hear the “cry of the earth” and the ”cry of poor” as Francis implores.

We may tend to interpret the Way of our path in life by external forces that support our privilege and plan rather than God’s desire for our conversion.

References

Genesis, CHAPTER 1. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 7, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/1?20 

Mark, CHAPTER 7. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 7, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/7?1 

Meditation on Mark 7:1-13. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved February 7, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/02/07/605298/ 

Psalms, PSALM 8. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 7, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/8?4 

Rohr, R. (2023, February 7). The Importance of Experience — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved February 7, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-importance-of-experience-2023-02-07/ 

Santos, N. (2023, February 7). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved February 7, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/020723.html 

Schwager, D. (2022, August 10). Rejecting the Commandments of God. Daily Scripture net. Retrieved February 7, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=feb7