Friday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
(Tobit 11:5-17; Mark 12:35-37)
Once an advertising campaign promised to “bring a mountain
to Chicagoland.” The pledge excited the
city’s children who never saw a mountain other than in books. It turned out, however, that the mountain was
only a new brand of coffee being introduced into the Chicago market.
In today’s gospel Jesus refutes a kind of advertising
campaign about the long-awaited Messiah.
The scribes have taught that the Messiah was to be a descendant of David,
the warrior-king. Jesus notes, however,
that one of the psalms refers to the Messiah as “my lord.” Since David is considered the author of the
psalms, Jesus asks how could David have called his descendant “my lord.” He means that the expectation of the Messiah
as a descendant of David is inadequate if he is to be David’s “lord.” Somehow, Jesus implies, the Messiah’s
accomplishments must transcend David’s military feats.
Jesus’ accomplishments comprise an achievement that would
put David in awe. He dies a horrific
death in complete submission to God’s will.
More astonishingly, however, he rises from the dead as indication of
God’s approval of his sacrifice. Furthermore,
he sends his Holy Spirit upon his disciples to guide them to moral and
spiritual heights. Yes, David, and we as
well, must acknowledge Jesus as “lord.”
