15 January 2011

15 January 2011

Psalm 20, 21; Isa. 43:1-13; Eph. 3:14-21; Mark 2:23-3:6

We talk about the “scandal of particularity” in the church, the claim that there is only one way to eternal life, Jesus. Here, the Lord speaks through the prophet in just this way to a people who have chosen to accept the claims or potential claims of many gods. He makes the claim that there are no other gods who rise to His level, all others are simply idols in comparison to Him. Beginning in verse 8 we see that not all will recognize this truth and the way in which He speaks of the remnant refers back to the original call of the prophet. The Lord told the prophet, “Keep on hearing, but do not understand;keep on seeing, but do not perceive.' Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed." Here those whose eyes are opened, their ears unstopped and who choose to understand are those who will come out. Clearly not all followed Jesus, just as the prophet said.

The Pharisees and Herodians were polar opposites. The Herodians were those who had accepted Roman rule and acclimated themselves so as to maximize their influence and status under the regime. The Pharisees were those who devoted themselves to the law, who would not accept inwardly what they had no choice but to accept outwardly. They were a nation within a nation. They did have one thing in common, both were making the situation work for themselves and it was just possible that Jesus would disrupt the status quo. As He began to teach and do things contrary to their own teaching, and to win the people with His arguments, the Pharisees were losing their grip on the people. They were willing to make common cause with the Herodians who had no desire for change either, and Jesus was already becoming their common enemy. They saw but they did not understand and they heard but they had no wisdom of their own. Just like Isaiah, Jesus’ words were falling on deaf ears and His acts on blind eyes.

Paul’s prayer is that they may comprehend through faith the love of Christ which “surpasses knowledge.” St. Anselm spoke of faith seeking understanding, a love of God seeking a deeper knowledge of God. We begin the walk of faith in love for what Christ has done for us and that love impels us to seek truly to know Him. When we fall in love with another human being we want to know all about them, what pleases and displeases them, where they came from, what shaped them to be the person they are, what their hopes and dreams are, etc. The same is true in our Christian faith and too often we stop on that journey in the mistaken belief that we know all there is to know but no matter how long we know the Lord, we will never be able to fathom the depths of Him. Faith precedes true understanding and our eyes and ears are to be always open to see and hear Him, constantly alert for evidence of His presence.

I know that the LORD saves his anointed;
he will answer him from his holy heaven
with the saving might of his right hand.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
They collapse and fall,
but we rise and stand upright.