God Governs with Justice and Faithfulness

January 26, 2009

Memorial of Saint Timothy and Saint Titus, bishops

By Beth DeCristofaro

Say among the nations: The Lord is king. He has made the world firm, not to be moved; he governs the peoples with equity. (Psalm 96:10)

But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house. …all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin. (Mark 3: 27-29)

Piety

Lord, grant that I may always allow myself to be guided by You, always follow Your plans, and perfectly accomplish Your Holy Will. Grant that in all things, great and small, today and all the days of my life, I may do whatever You require of me. Help me respond to the slightest prompting of Your Grace, so that I may be Your trustworthy instrument for Your honor. May Your Will be done in time and in eternity by me, in me, and through me. Amen. (St. Theresa of Avila)

Study

The Good News can be found even in the bad news. Jesus uses the illogical and malicious accusations of the scribes to teach two important, awe-inspiring points: that he is taking back the world from evil and that God’s forgiveness is complete and overreaching.

Jesus is stronger than Satan. God can, and does, overpower Satan and plunders or takes the possessions of Satan back for God’s own. Each and every one of God’s children is saved by Jesus. The scribes, being religious scholars, would have recognized the references to binding and overcoming Satan. The absurdity of their words would have been also recognizable. God does not divide but conquers evil.

But further, God’s potency and profuse love is shown, Jesus says, in that no sins are above or beyond God’s forgiveness. George Martin in The Gospel According to Mark makes the point that “God’s mercy has no exceptions but rather accepting God’s mercy is another matter.” To defiantly reject the actions of the Holy Spirit is a choice not only to blaspheme but is a choice to reject God’s mercy. By this choice one does not receive God’s abundant forgiveness. Jesus does not accuse directly but one wonders what the scribes heard and how their own hearts might have been struck through his words.

Action

How do Jesus’ words strike our hearts? Are we concerned or feel a finger pointing at us? Do we feel left out or are we reassured in the strength of God’s mercy? What do we need to work at forgiving within ourselves, particularly those parts of us that keep us bound rather than free to experience Jesus’ loving, all encompassing mercy?