Tuesday, January 19, 2021

 Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

(Hebrews 6:10-20; Mark 2:23-28)

A young man was criticizing the Church’s emphasis on eternal life.  He thought that it would not bring many of his generation to practice their faith.  Better, he said, to stress community and social action.  These latter pursuits form parts of the Catholic agenda.  But the Church can hardly prioritize them over eternal life.  The latter rises from the depths of our souls and gives meaning to God’s love for us.  Today’s reading from Hebrews keeps eternal life first and foremost on the Christian agenda.

The author begins by exhorting the addressees to cherish the promise of eternal life.  He then argues biblically that God will bestow eternal life on those who believe until the end.  He also calls the hope of eternal life an “anchor” or mainstay to keep believers on track.  Finally, he sees Jesus as both a model and an instrument of the Christian’s gaining eternal life.

Eternal life sounds to many like “pie in the sky.”  They see other purposes for religion like identity and social solidarity.  These latter pursuits deserve attention since they form part of the reality that is the Church.  However, eternal life is the deepest truth of faith that biblical religion has taught.  Hope of it has resulted in unparalleled accomplishments for the Church.  First, the Church has existed – despite persecution and corruption – for almost two thousand years.  Second, the Church has created an understanding of reality that is as profound as it is comprehensive. And, most of all, the Church has nurtured countless men and women to live wonderfully good lives. 

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

(Hebrews 6:10-20; Mark 2:23-28)

Today’s first reading is the source of the familiar Christian icon for the virtue of hope.  The author of the Letter to the Hebrews is saying that hope steadies our belief in God’s promise as an anchor stays a boat.  Without hope we would drift away with the currents of fashion or the breezes of comfort.  Hope moves us to struggle if necessary to maintain our faith in God. 

Unfortunately we often trivialize hope.  We say that we hope that our team wins the Super Bowl or that it doesn’t freeze tomorrow.  These wishes are puny in comparison with the hope expressed in Hebrews for the “unshakeable kingdom,” that is eternal life.  Let us be sure that eternal life is not a “never, never land” but begins here.  It is the joy of sharing with loved ones – both living and dead – a heart-felt hymn along with a piece of consecrated bread. 

Hope has been described as the youngest of three siblings loping between her sisters, faith and love.  Often it seems that the elder children must pull along hope, which wonders how God might transform the silence of death so that we could again experience the company of our relatives, friends, and teachers who have crossed its threshold.  But sometimes hope is distinctly in front urging belief and care so that God might find us worthy of the fullness of life with our loved ones.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

(Hebrews 6:10-20; Mark 2:23-28)

Today’s first reading is the source of the familiar Christian icon for the virtue of hope. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews is saying that hope steadies our belief in God’s promise as an anchor stays a boat. Without hope we would drift away with the currents of fashion or the breezes of comfort. Hope moves us to struggle if necessary to maintain our faith in God.

But what do we hope for? We use the word all the time and for the most frivolous of things. Some say they hope that their football team wins or that it snows tomorrow. Hebrews expresses hope for the “unshakeable kingdom,” which we know as eternal life. It is not a far off “never, never land” but as close to us as we are to ourselves. It is the joy of sharing with loved ones – both living and dead – a smile along with a piece of bread.

Hope has been called the youngest of three children addling between her sisters, faith and love. Often it seems that the elder children must pull along hope which wonders how God might reverse the arrow of time so that we might approach again our parents, friends, or teachers who have crossed death’s threshold. But at times hope is distinctly in the lead urging us to believe and to care so that we might enjoy renewed companionship with our loved ones.