Thursday, January 18, 2024

Thursday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

(I Samuel 18:6-9.19:1-7; Mark 3:7-12)

An old movie tells the story of a single mother of two sons.  The woman’s husband abandoned his family and eventually went off to war where he was severely injured.  He came back so disfigured that he could not be recognized.  The man watched over his wife and sons from a distance without anyone knowing.  One night his wife was assaulted by two men.  The man intervened to save her but was fatally stabbed to death in the process.  Only then did the woman identify her rescuer as her husband. 

Like the husband in the movie, Jesus in today’s gospel does not want his identity known.  He forbids the unclean spirit from revealing that he is the Son of God.  Later, when Peter has the insight to call him “Messiah,” he and the other disciples will also be told not to let the word out.  If the people knew that Jesus was the Son of God, they would want to make themselves into an army with him as head.  But they would not know the extent of God’s love for them.  Only after his death will the people realize that Jesus died on the cross so that their sins could be forgiven.  In fact, when he dies, the Roman centurion announces, “Truly this man was God’s son.”

The husband in the movie knew that if he tried to go back to his wife as deformed as he was, nobody would believe that he cared about his family.  He had to show everyone his love by dying to save his wife.  Jesus does the same for us and wants us to make sacrifices out of love for one another.

Thursday, January 20, 2022

 Thursday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

(I Samuel 18:6-9.19:1-7; Mark 3:7-12)

In today’s gospel Jesus faces two kinds of threats.  There is the crowd which may turn into a stampede that crushes him. He orders a boat as a safety valve if this begins to happen.  Then there are the evil spirits who want to reveal his full identity to the people.  If they succeed, the crowd would besiege him with adulation.  This might not seem harmful, but it would frustrate his mission of revealing the Father’s will.

Jesus shows his authority over the evil spirits.  He orders them not to speak about him.  More than that, however, at the indicated moment he will vanquish Satan.  The power of darkness will have no control over Jesus’ followers.  Like the invasion of Normandy, it will be a costly victory.  Jesus will die on the cross.  But it will liberate his people of the tyranny of sin.

We too face physical and spiritual threats all the time.  The Covid pandemic exemplifies the former.  Unchaste desires represent the latter.  Like Jesus, we are wise to prepare ways to escape physical disaster.  We should as well not hesitate to call on Jesus to help us avoid spiritual downfall.

Thursday, January 21, 2021

 Memorial of Saint, Agnes, virgin and martyr

(Hebrews 7:25-8:6; Mark 3:7-12)

Christians are accustomed to thinking of Jesus as the “Son of God.”  When we say this, we usually have in mind the concept of the Council of Nicea.  In that epic event Jesus was identified as having both a divine and human nature.  He was the Son because of his being eternally begotten by the Father.  The evangelists, writing 250 before Nicea, were not thinking so philosophically.  What did they mean when they called Jesus “the Son”?

In today’s gospel Jesus is said to rebuke evil spirits who call him “the Son of God.”  It should be remembered that at his Baptism a voice from heaven calls him, “my beloved Son.”  In the Gospel of Mark these words are directed to Jesus alone. The voice speaks again at Jesus’ transfiguration, but only the three specially chosen disciples hear it along with Jesus.  Finally at the crucifixion the Roman centurion says openly, “’Truly this man was the Son of God!’”  Only now, when Jesus has given his life, could people understand what being “Son of God” means.  It is not a nametag for a privileged reception, but an identification of one who loves like God.  As a human, this means the willingness to give up one’s whole life for the benefit of others.

We too are “son and daughters of God.”  We have joined ourselves to Jesus who has brought us into his Father’s household.  We have been made into those who love with whole heart and soul.  Loving in this way, we become like St. Agnes, who gave up her life rather than betray God, her Father.

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Memorial of Saint Agnes, virgin and martyr

(I Samuel18:6-9.19:1-7; Mark 3:7-12)

Today, as on every January 21, two lambs have been delivered to the bishop of Rome.  The lambs’ white color and cuddly wool symbolize innocence, especially meekness.  They represent Christ and the fourth century virgin-martyr Agnes whose feast day is today.  Agnes is not only considered as pure and gentle as a lamb, but also her name resembles the word for lamb in Latin, agnus.

In today’s gospel Jesus warns the evil spirits not to reveal his identity.  He may not be acting meekly, but he does not intend to have himself exalted.  He demonstrates the maxim that he constantly preached.  He is here to serve, not to be served.

Practicing humility, meekness, and humble service, we will always run against strong natural currents.  We have a strong instinct to be recognized for our traits and works.  Nevertheless, we are wise not to draw attention to them but to allow them to speak for themselves.  Also, when others praise us for them, we are wiser still to acknowledge them as the work of God.

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Thursday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

(I Samuel 18:6-9.19:1-7; Mark 3:7-12)

Every year from January 18 - 25 Christians of all stripes are asked to pray for Church unity.  The festival of prayer ends with the celebration of the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. Of course, the apostle to the Gentiles not only championed Church unity but also expressed a willingness to sacrifice himself so that the majority of his fellow Jews would join the former pagans in accepting Christ.  For various historical reasons, unity is elusive, but today’s gospel hints at a good reason for cooperation among all Christians.

Throughout the gospel of Mark, Jesus strives to keep his identity as God’s Son hidden.  In today’s passage he admonishes the unclean spirits, the only ones who are aware of whom he is, not to make him known.  His reasoning is not hard to fathom.  Jesus wants to demonstrate that God will save His people even more through suffering than through deeds of power.  In 1901 the Protestant scholar William Wrede published his idea of a “Messianic secret” to describe Jesus’ intention to hide his identity.  Wrede’s explanation has been refuted over the years, but his thesis has spurred study and reflection by Christians from different traditions.

Catholicism is indebted to Protestantism for the latter’s Scriptural scholarship as it owes respect to Orthodoxy for its attention to liturgy.  Other churches and faith communities can similarly look to Catholicism for ordered unity.  All Christians should share their different gifts so that God’s plan for His Church may be fully realized.  Of course, real unity cannot be achieved without a demand for truth.  But for that reason as well, we must not allow pride and prejudice to derail the quest. 

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Thursday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

(I Samuel 18:6-9.19:1-7; Mark 3:7-12)

Every year from January 18 to 25 Christians of all stripes are asked to pray for Church unity. The festival of prayer ends with the celebration of the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. Of course, the apostle to the Gentiles not only championed Church unity but also expressed a willingness to sacrifice himself so that the majority of his fellow Jews would join the former pagans in accepting Christ. For various historical reasons, unity is elusive but today’s gospel suggests a reason for cooperation among all Christians.

Throughout the gospel of Mark, Jesus strives to keep his identity as God’s Son hidden. In today’s passage he admonishes the unclean spirits, who are aware of spiritual reality, not to make him known. His reasoning is not hard to fathom. Jesus needs time to demonstrate that God saves His people through suffering as well as mighty deeds. In 1901 the Protestant scholar William Wrede popularized the idea of a “Messianic secret” to describe Jesus’ will to hide his identity. Wrede’s explanation has been refuted over the years, but his attention to the gospel peculiarity has spurred study and reflection.

Catholicism is indebted to Protestantism for the latter’s Scriptural scholarship as it owes respect to Orthodoxy for its attention to liturgy. Christians need to come together to fully realize God’s plan for His Church. Of course, real unity cannot be achieved without a demand for truth. But for that reason as well, we must not allow pride and prejudice to derail the quest.

Homilette for Thursday, January 22, 2009

Thursday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

(Hebrews 7:25-8:6; Mark 3:7-12)

“Build a better mousetrap,” goes a familiar adage in economics, “and the world will beat a path to your door.” In the gospel today the world seems to beat a path to Jesus’ door. He has provided people something more helpful than an effective mousetrap. He cures them of every disease. Still the people do not recognize Jesus as the Son of God. For them he is a human albeit wondrous healer.

The unclean spirits with their supernatural powers, however, do recognize Jesus for who he is. Either out of reverence or mock piety, they bow down before Jesus and proclaim his divine heritage. Jesus quiets them probably because the people about him are not yet able to understand his divine mission.

Fortunately we can, at least to some extent. Jesus came to redeem the world from sin by his ultimate sacrifice of self. For this he deserves our praise – the highest form of which, of course, is emulation. No, we probably do not have to give our lives, but all of us are called to service. Jesus’ healing all the people in the gospel today indicates that he has prepared us for this difficult task.

Homilette for January 24, 2008

Thursday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

(Mark 3:7-12)

The Ganges River holds a revered place in Hinduism. Men and woman in tremendous numbers converge on it for healing. People believe that by drinking its waters they might have eternal life.

In today’s gospel Jesus becomes a kind of Ganges River. He attracts huge numbers of people from the four corners of Palestine who seek healing of body and/or spirit. Jesus tells the demons whom he casts out not to mention that he is the Son of God. Evidently, he is not only concerned that the people would get the wrong idea of what that means, but any greater numbers would only create insuperable problems of logistics.

Today Jesus is more accessible to us in the Eucharist. But we Mass-goers might ask ourselves, why do we seek him? Is it for some acute need like healing? Or do we wish to learn from him the ways of everlasting life? Of course, the latter too is a critical need, but it recognizes that some effort on our part will be called forth. When we come to Jesus, we must be ready to change our ways. If not, no matter how much healing there is in his touch, in the long run it will not avail us the eternal life we seek.