Wednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
(Hebrews 7:1-3.15-17; Mark 3:1-6)
In theocracies
religious leaders not only influence people’s souls, they govern their workaday
lives. People today remember how the Ayatollah
Khomeini came to rule Iran. Sought out
by the populace, he gained authority over the army when he returned from
abroad. More than anyone else, the Ayatollah
is responsible for the resurgence of Islam in the last fifty years. Today’s first reading describes the
priest-king Melchizedek with a similarly supreme authority.
The author’s point is that Jesus is much like
Melchizedek. His divine origins were
largely unknown until he rose from the dead.
Jesus also was a Messiah-king who brought peace of soul at least to
those who accepted him as their ruler.
Finally, he too is owed a share of the people’s life, not just a tenth
but one’s whole being.
We are reluctant to give Jesus everything. Pope Francis says that there is a little bit
of evil in every human. It is true; we
want to retain some of ourselves for selfish reasons. Like the people the author of Hebrews was
addressing, we grow weary of trusting in Jesus.
It is a temptation, however, that we must overcome. Jesus, not worldly gratifications, is the key
to a truly fulfilling life.
