Genesis 3:9-15; Psalms 129(130); 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1; Mark 3:20-35
The Fall and the Redemption
Dear friends, today is the 10th Sunday of the Ordinary Season. However, in some countries, the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, celebrated last Friday, is marked today. Before we reflect on today’s reading proper, let us say something little about the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Devotion to the Sacred Heart originates in the medieval period. Several saints are known to have promoted the devotion namely St Gertrude, St Margaret Mary Alacoque, St John Eudes, and St. Arnold Janssen, among others. The devotion to the sacred heart represents a devotion to Jesus in his human nature, in particular referring to the heart as the seat of the emotions. Jesus’s heart went to all who needed help rich and poor alike. He felt compassion for the sick like the blind Bartimaeus (Mk 10:46-52), the sinners like the woman brought to him for committing adultery (Jn 8:1-11), and Zacchaeus the tax collector (Lk 19:1-10), among many others. Has your heart gone out with compassion for anyone?
When the soldier pierced Jesus on the side, blood and water came out. Pouring blood means giving away life, ceasing to live, and sacrificing – by pouring out his blood Jesus gave his life as a ransom for our sins. Pouring out water means giving life, and reviving – when we are thirsty, we look for water to quench our thirst. When we are dehydrated, we may faint or even die. If the Plants lack water, they weather and die. By dying on the cross Jesus gave us new life. The heart is the organ that pumps blood to all parts of the body hence circulating vital nutrients and information. Figuratively the seat of love and faith. We tell others that we love them from the bottom of our hearts, or we believe with all our hearts. What do you mean when you say you love with all your heart?
Back to today’s readings proper. In the first reading, we hear what happened after the first Man Adam, disobeyed God by eating the forbidden fruit. His eyes were open to evil, and he saw himself naked, became shameful, and hid himself. Many of the bad things are done in hiding or under the cover of darkness. When our evil doings are exposed, we feel ashamed and avoid interacting with others. Adam ate the fruit but when God asked him about it, he blamed the woman for it. when God asked the woman, she blamed the serpent for it. This is what many of us do, blaming others for the evil things that we do. It did not matter so much who gave the fruit, but the fact that they ate what they had been strictly told not to, with even a warning that the consequences would be death.
I think the man and the woman did not understand what death meant. Now you and I know what death means – separation from God and eternal damnation. Nevertheless, we ignore the consequences and opt for evil. The blame game continues today. Very few people take responsibility for their actions. How many times have you blamed others for your actions?
However, like the psalmist sings today, “The Lord is full of mercy and redemption, God did not abandon Adam and Eve. He covered their nakedness and began the long journey of redemption that would culminate in Christ Jesus. If we sin, we can repent and ask for God’s mercy and forgiveness. Jesus left for us the sacraments that keep the grace of God alive in us for our Journey. St. Paul in the second reading tells us that though our outer body is falling into decay, our inner man – our spirit is being renewed day by day. After the Baptism, other sacraments continue to renew our spirit day by day as we journey towards our eternal home. The sacrament of penance is to come back to righteousness when we go astray. It is not so much what we tell the priest at the confessional but the whole process of realization of our sins, the courage to repent and start a new life. If these aspects are absent, then telling one’s sins to a priest does not have any impact on our lives.
The scribes in today’s gospel have blasphemed by saying that Jesus is acting with the influence of Beelzebul, the prince of the evil spirits. Blasphemy is the conscious and hardened opposition to the truth. Because of their fight to retain the monopoly of the interpretation of the Torah, which they did to their convenience, the scribes fault Jesus because he opened the eyes and the hearts of the people to understand the law in their hearts. Today, this kind of behaviour continues. People who are opposed to the truth will always fight anyone who tries to champion it. Some would like people to remain in darkness because it is profitable to them. Are you one of these?
Jesus told the scribes that their offense to the Spirit of God is unforgivable. This is because it is the Holy Spirit who carries out the work of redemption in us. By his death and resurrection, Jesus has made us his brothers and sisters. If we want to be truly related to Jesus, it is not enough to be born into a Christian family, be Baptized, and attend Church service like some think. We need to listen to his teaching and do the will of God. Do you know if what you do in life is according to the will of God?
Dear friends, as we enter deeper into the Ordinary Time of our liturgical calendar, let us be attentive to the teachings of Jesus so that we may not go against the Spirit of the truth.
Have a blessed Sunday.
Fr. Lawrence Muthee, SVD
SVD JAMBO KENTAN 