Perfect Through Suffering

January 13, 2009

Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time


For it was fitting that he, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering. He who consecrates and those who are being consecrated all have one origin. Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them “brothers.” Hebrew 2:10-11

In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!” Mark 1:23-24

Piety

Bless me, Father for I have sinned. It has been (time) since my last Confession. These are my sins…

My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy. Amen.

Study

The reading from Hebrews presents what you could visualize as an organization chart of Christianity. God, of course it at the top in the form of all three persons of the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Next in the hierarchy come the angels.

To make a point, God sent his only son to be “for a little while lower than the angels.” Jesus was sent to bring his children to glory by making their salvation “perfect through suffering.” This is as opposed to leading them to glory at the head of a parade, an army, a government, a Hollywood movie, a rock opera (No Jesus Christ Superstar in Hebrews), or a cultural movement.

During this “little while,” everything on earth was subject to Jesus. However, even here there was an order to everything. Jesus called us his brothers and sisters. No longer is he teacher and rabbi, but he calls us friends. We have the same origin (God). Thus, we have our royal lineage as priest, prophet and king squarely in place.

I will proclaim your name to my brethren, in the midst of the assembly I will praise you.

We find Jesus “in the midst of the assembly.” However, rather than praise, Jesus confronts someone who denies his holiness.

Why is this person identified as being of unclean spirit? The notes in the New American Bible explain this is so “because of the spirit's resistance to the holiness of God. The spirit knows and fears the power of Jesus to destroy his influence.” The man with the unclean spirit will not even acknowledge God’s names directly. He says, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!” This is not a confession but an attempt to ward off Jesus’ power, reflecting the notion that use of the precise name of an opposing spirit would guarantee mastery over him. Despite that attempt to deny Jesus, Jesus silenced the cry of the unclean spirit and drove him out of the man anyway.

First, this act fulfills the prophecy in Hebrews and shows that God “subjected all things under his feet.” Also, the action showed the people the power of the teaching and healing of the Son of Man. All were amazed. “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

Action

How are we connected to Jesus? How are we disconnected from Jesus? What do we do to share in Jesus’ ministry and work, connecting ourselves to Him? How do we cancel out those actions when we let the unclean spirit into our lives and deny the influence of Jesus through our actions, words, and ideas?

We can not expect Jesus to march into the temple and banish away the unclean spirits that invade our lives and try to occupy our hearts, minds and souls. Or can we?

Do you know the Reconciliation schedule at your parish? Participating in this sacrament is the closest parallel that we have to Jesus banishing the unclean spirit from the man’s body. He will do the same for us if we just ask.