The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invites contemplation of the tension between the tyranny of pure reason and our faith when we experience discipline and rejection.
Finding Faith
The reading from the Letter to the Hebrews urges the Christian community to endure trials for the sake of discipline and warns against rejecting God’s Grace.
* [12:1–13] Christian life is to be inspired not only by the Old Testament men and women of faith (Heb 12:1) but above all by Jesus. As the architect of Christian faith, he had himself to endure the cross before receiving the glory of his triumph (Heb 12:2). Reflection on his sufferings should give his followers courage to continue the struggle, if necessary even to the shedding of blood (Heb 12:3–4). Christians should regard their own sufferings as the affectionate correction of the Lord, who loves them as a father loves his children.1
Psalm 103 is a thanksgiving for God’s Goodness.
* [Psalm 103] The speaker in this hymn begins by praising God for personal benefits (Ps 103:1–5), then moves on to God’s mercy toward all the people (Ps 103:6–18). Even sin cannot destroy that mercy (Ps 103:11–13), for the eternal God is well aware of the people’s human fragility (Ps 103:14–18). The psalmist invites the heavenly beings to join in praise (Ps 103:19–22).2
The Gospel of Mark describes the rejection of Jesus at Nazareth.
* [6:4] A prophet is not without honor except…in his own house: a saying that finds parallels in other literatures, especially Jewish and Greek, but without reference to a prophet. Comparing himself to previous Hebrew prophets whom the people rejected, Jesus intimates his own eventual rejection by the nation especially in view of the dishonor his own relatives had shown him (Mk 3:21) and now his townspeople as well.3
Beth Samson believes the first reading is ultimately getting to – how, when we do wrong, when we sin, do we seek the work of healing in order to restore right relationship with God, family, friends, community? And what do we need from God in these moments?
Let us pray. Loving God, You created each one of us in Your image and to grow into our unique personhood in order to be in relationship with You. You created us in community and with freedom, for that we give thanks. When we have done wrong, help us see the pain we have caused and be with us as we seek reconciliation in the relationships we have hurt – with You, with family and friends, with our wider community. Your Love for each of us is great, may we strive to respond to this immense Love with love in everything we do. Amen.4
Don Schwager quotes “Distinguishing God's power and our faith,” by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD).
"And perhaps, as in the case of metallic substances there exists in some a natural attraction toward some other thing, as in the magnet for iron, and in naphtha for fire, so there is an attraction in such faith toward the divine power according to what Jesus said: 'If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say unto this mountain, 'Move to another place,' and it shall be moved' (Matthew 17:20). Matthew and Mark wished to present the all-surpassing value of that divine power as a power that works even in those who do not believe. But they did not deny that grace works even more powerfully among those who have faith. So it seems to me that they accurately said not that the Lord did not do any mighty works because of their unbelief, but that he did not do many there (Mark 6:5). Mark does not flatly say that he could do no mighty work there at all, and stop at that point, but added, 'except that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk and healed them' (Mark 6:5). Thus the power in him overcame even their unbelief." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 10.19)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on Hebrews 12:4-7, 11:15 comments that coaches and teachers often use pep talks to motivate their charges and instill in them the determination to work hard. In some ways, this reading from the Letter to the Hebrews is like that. The author is speaking to Jewish Christians who were growing weary of the demands of the Christian life.
The Lord understands our many struggles to follow his commandments, to love our enemies, and to care for those around us. He sympathizes with our pain. After all, he became human just like us. But as the author of Hebrews says, the trials we endure are like the discipline that any good parent would use to form his child. That discipline might feel painful at the time, but there’s a great reward in store for us when we persevere and cling to Christ: the peace that comes from living in a way that is pleasing to him (Hebrews 12:11). Yes, God wants us to strive for holiness. But he doesn’t expect us to do it on our own. He freely showers his grace on us, each and every time we ask. So take heart! Our Father is not only a good parent, but he’s also a good coach, and he’s cheering you on toward the finish line. “Father, give me the grace to stay on the narrow road to life.”6
Friar Jude Winkler notes the author of Hebrews exhorts the community to live with faith like the heroes of the Hebrew Testament and suffer persecution as witnesses to Christ. Jesus performed all three categories of miracles, (nature, exorcism, and healing), in the area around Nazareth. Friar Jude reminds us to be more observant of the good in those close to us.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, quotes Thomas Merton in “Contemplation in a World of Action”, that the imagination should be allowed a certain freedom to browse around. — Basic religious faith is a vote for some coherence, purpose, benevolence, and direction in the universe. Unfortunately, the notion of faith that emerged in the West was much more a rational assent to the truth of certain mental beliefs rather than a calm and hopeful trust that God is inherent in all things, and that this whole thing is going somewhere good. Author Sue Monk Kidd has written eloquently about the disruption spiritual seekers often encounter in midlife and our resistance to it.
What has happened to our ability to dwell in unknowing, to live inside a question and coexist with the tensions of uncertainty? Where is our willingness to incubate pain and let it birth something new? What has happened to patient unfolding, to endurance? These things are what form the ground of waiting. And if you look carefully, you’ll see that they’re also the seedbed of creativity and growth—what allows us to do the daring and to break through to newness. . . . Creativity flourishes not in certainty but in questions. Growth germinates not in tent dwelling but in upheaval. Yet the seduction is always security rather than venturing, instant knowing rather than deliberate waiting. [2]7
Some of the discipline and rejection we need to be strengthened to endure comes from a world that has limited its vision to those rational events that we can perceive with our five senses.
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