Human Advancement And The Sabbath

 "Again, JESUS entered the synagogue.  A man who had a paralyzed hand was there; and some people watched JESUS: would HE heal the man on the Sabbath?  If HE did, they could accuse HIM.

JESUS said to the man with the paralyzed hand, 'Stand here, in the center.'  Then HE asked them, 'What does the law allow us to do on the Sabbath?  To do good or to do harm?  To save life or to kill?'  But they were silent.

Then JESUS looked around at them with anger and deep sadness at their hardness of heart.  And HE said to the man, 'Stretch out your hand.'  He stretched it out, and his hand was healed.  As soon as the Pharisees left, they met with Herod's supporters, looking for a way to destroy JESUS." - Mark 3:1-6 

(Here, what Mark wants to emphasize is not the miracle JESUS performs, but HIS attitude vis-à-vis the Sabbath.  This miracle confirms what he has just said in 2:28.

The Pharisees considered it lawful to work on the Sabbath if it was a question of saving someone in danger of death.  JESUS is about to enlarge this ruling: for HIM, not to do good is to do evil, not to cure is to kill.

Some ask if JESUS was interested in the material advancement [well-being] of people or only in their spiritual progress.  Actually, it is impossible to separate one from the other.

JESUS, apparently, did not speak of the economy nor the social order, but HE did denounce our prejudices that prevent us from giving the world a true and just order.

People, then, have the capacity and the means to better their condition, but they use them poorly because they remain prisoners of principles or institutions that are considered sacred, and in order to preserve them they allow half the world to die.)

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The Sabbath Was Made For Man

 "One Sabbath HE was walking through grain fields.  As HIS disciples walked along with HIM, they began to pick the heads of grain and crush them in their hands.  Then the Pharisees said to JESUS, 'Look!  They are doing what is forbidden on the Sabbath!'

And HE said to them, 'Have you never read what David did in his time of need; when he and his men were very hungry?  He went into the House of GOD, when Abiathar was High Priest, and ate the bread of offering, which only the priests are allowed to eat and he also gave some to the men who were with him.'  Then JESUS said to them, 'The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.  So the Son of Man is master even of the Sabbath.'" - Mark 2:23-28 

(It was normal that passersby, when hungry, would pick fruit or wheat.  The Pharisees were scandalized because JESUS' disciples did this on the Sabbath, a day when all work was prohibited.

The Sabbath was made for man.  No law, no matter holy it is, should be applied in a way that would oppress a person.

The Son of Man is master even of the Sabbath.  For the Jews, the observance of the Sabbath was the pillar of the Law established by GOD.  Who did JESUS think HE was?)

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The Messiah, King, Priest And Judge

 "YAHWEH said to my LORD,

'Sit at MY right hand

till I make YOUR foes YOUR footstool.'

From Zion YAHWEH will extend YOUR mighty scepter;

and YOU will rule in the midst of YOUR enemies.

YOURS is royal dignity

from the day YOU were born in holy majesty.

Like dew from the womb of the dawn,

I have begotten YOU.

YAHWEH has sworn,

and HE will not take back HIS word:

'YOU are a priest, forever, 

in the order of Melchizedek.'"

- Psalm 110:1-4

(Sometimes we feel trapped, as if in prison, by the problems of life.  This psalm is like a flash of lightning illuminating the prison and showing us an unexpected escape towards heaven.  In spite of some obscure expressions, the overall meaning is clear: from Zion will come, the one who will be victorious over all the hostile powers.  The struggle will be hard, but GOD will finally ask HIM to sit at HIS right; and all will be subject to HIM.  Our LORD is the Son of GOD.

CHRIST is king and priest, but king 'of justice, love, and peace;' the priest who entered the sanctuary though HIS own blood and has opened up for us access to the sanctuary.  Let us pray for the people of GOD, who are kingly and priestly people.)

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We Must Be Like Children In Order To Enter The Kingdom Of GOD

 "People were binging their little children to HIM to have HIM touch them; and the disciples rebuked them for this.

When JESUS noticed it, HE was very angry and said, 'Let the children come to ME and don't stop them, for the kingdom of GOD belongs to such as these.  Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of GOD like a child will not enter it.'  Then HE took the children in HIS arms and, laying HIS hands on them, blessed them." - Mark 10:13-16 

(JESUS, despite having no children of HIS own, opens to everyone the richness of HIS heart.  HE marvels at the mystery of life that begins full of hope, and discovers the likeness of the FATHER in every unknown child.  How could JESUS, who asks us to have hope, forget that the children are also our hope?

Whoever does not receive the kingdom of GOD like a child.  We must be like children in order to enter the kingdom of GOD.  We must forget our wisdom and self-sufficiency, and the bitterness of past experience in order to receive GOD's gifts and words in wonder and simplicity.)

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CHRIST Is Our High Priest

 "We have a great high priest, JESUS, the Son of GOD, who has entered heaven.  Let us, then, hold fast to the faith we profess.  Our high priest is not indifferent to our weaknesses, for HE was tempted, in every way, just as we are, yet, without sinning.  Let us, then, with confidence, approach the throne of grace.  We will obtain mercy and, through HIS favor, help in due time." - Hebrews 4:14-16 

(For the Jews, the high priest--despite his personal defects--was a sacred person protecting the people from the punishment deserved by their sins.  The people needed not only leaders to govern them, but an advocate before GOD.  Aaron, Moses' brother, the first priest of the Jews, had been such a man.  His successors, the high priests, were to be the same.

This idea is developed here: the high priest is the people's representative before GOD, and he must be weak as they are but accepted by GOD.  CHRIST is just that and perfectly so.  Forgetting that JESUS is a man among humans is as serious for the faith as forgetting that HE is the Son of GOD.

It is helpful to look at the role of CHRIST, the high priest, at this time when the Church reminds us that all the faithful are associated with the priestly role of CHRIST.  We must represent humanity before GOD; we are consecrated to GOD for that purpose.

In the Eucharist we thank GOD in the name of everyone.  In daily life we must be instruments of the grace of GOD by being people who promote truth, encourage love and establish peaceful relationships.)

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GOD's Patience And Man's Ingratitude

 "... which we have heard and known, which our ancestors have told us.

We will not keep them hidden from our children; we will announce them to the coming generation: the glorious deeds of YAHWEH, HIS might and the wonders HE has done.

so the next generation would learn, and teach their own children.

They would then, put their trust in GOD, and not forget HIS deeds and HIS commands.

And not be like their ancestors, stubborn and rebellious people, a people of inconstant heart, whose spirit was fickle.

- Psalm 78:3. 4. 6-7. 8

(The lesson of past history beats the rhythm of Israel's history.  Divine generosity, human ingratitude, correction, renewed generosity, is an enlarged picture of the individual experience.  GOD rarely showed HIS hands in such a way that people are forced to recognize it, in the events of history.  This needs a thoughtful and grateful heart.  And even then, we easily forget.  

Sin is not the end of history; grace is!  Our history is a school of life and prayer.  It is enough to remember what we have done and what GOD does.  This psalm can help us.) 

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If Only You Would Hear GOD's Voice Today!

 "Listen to what the Holy Spirit says: If only you would hear GOD's voice today! Do not be stubborn, as they were in the place called Rebellion, when your ancestors challenged ME in the desert, although they had seen MY deeds for forty years.  That is why I was angry with those people and said: Their hearts are always going astray and they do not understand MY ways.  I was angry and made a solemn vow: They will never enter MY rest.

So, brothers, be careful, lest some of you come to have an evil and unbelieving heart, that falls away from the living GOD.  Encourage one another, day by day, as long as it is called today.  Let no one become hardened in the deceitful way of sin.  We are associated with CHRIST, provided we hold steadfastly to our initial hope, until the end." - Hebrews 3:7-14 

(Several times this letter will recall the warning given the Hebrew pilgrims in the desert.  If only you would hear GOD's voice today!  The road is long and the believer grows tired when difficult times come, after the enthusiasm of the first days.  Supported by CHRIST's words, we must continue to hope for that which GOD promised, but which is invisible to our eyes.)

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JESUS Had To Share This Nature

 "And because all those children share one same nature of flesh and blood, JESUS, likewise, had to share this nature.  This is why HIS death destroyed the one holding the power of death, that is the devil, and freed those who remained in bondage all their lifetime, because of the fear of death.

JESUS came, to take by the hand, not the angels but the human race.  So, HE had to be like HIS brothers and sisters, in every respect, in order to be the high priest, faithful to GOD and merciful to them, a priest, able to ask pardon, and atone for their sins.  Having been tested through suffering, HE is able to help those who are tested." - Hebrews 2:14-18 

(JESUS had to share this nature.  GOD uses human solidarity to save us.  CHRIST saves us through sharing flesh and blood, and human destiny.  In the same way, we are saved if we help in the liberation of the world, if we courageously accept our dependence on and solidarity with others.  To work side by side with others, to suffer and rejoice with them is a way of saving them.  We would like, at times, to escape our human condition and to be more independent: it seems to us that we would be better able to serve GOD, yet this dependence in the details of daily life is the means by which GOD wants us to take the human race by the hand.)

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The New World

 "The angels were not given dominion over the new world of which we are speaking.  Instead, someone declared in Scripture: What is man, that YOU should be mindful of HIM, what is the son of man that YOU should care for HIM?  For a while YOU placed HIM a little lower than the angels, but YOU crowned HIM with glory and honor.  YOU have given HIM dominion over all things.

What it is said, that GOD gave HIM dominion over all things, nothing is excluded.  As it is, we do not yet see HIS dominion over all things.  But JESUS, who suffered death, and for a little while, was placed lower than the angels, has been crowned with honor and glory.  For the merciful plan of GOD demanded that HE experience death, on behalf of everyone.

GOD, from whom all come, and by whom all things exist, wanted to bring many children to glory, and HE thought it fitting to make perfect, through suffering, the initiator of their salvation.  So, HE who gives, and those who receive holiness, are one.  HE, HIMSELF, is not ashamed of calling us brothers and sisters, as we read: LORD, I will proclaim YOUR name to MY brothers; I will praise YOU in the congregation." - Hebrews 2:5-12 

(The new world.  Actually the text says: the world to come.  This does not mean future times, or the end of the world, but the new and definitive times that began with the resurrection of CHRIST.

The new world is where the risen CHRIST is.  It is the homeland we are hoping for.  This new world has already come to us: a believer who lives in the Spirit constantly has experiences which are not of the earth even if in the beginning he is not aware of it.

All the history of JESUS has been both HIS and ours.  HE thought it fitting to make perfect through suffering the initiator of their salvation.  There is no other way to human liberation than the way of the cross.  Those who are eager to free others must be tested, some through opposition, others through indifference.  Suffering is a good teacher and it tests the strength of our surrender.

It is on the cross of CHRIST that we must discover the love of the FATHER for HIS Son, since HE did not "condemn HIM" to suffer on earth, but rather, by way of suffering, HE called HIM to be the Savior and model for everyone.)

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GOD Born Of GOD

 "GOD has spoken, in the past, to our ancestors, through the prophets in many different ways, although never completely; but, in our times, HE has spoken definitively to us, through HIS Son.

HE is the one GOD appointed heir of all things, since, through HIM, HE unfolded the stages of the world.

HE is the radiance of GOD's glory, and bears the stamp of GOD's hidden being, so that, HIS powerful word upholds the universe.  And after taking away sin, HE took HIS place, at the right hand of the divine Majesty, in heaven.

So HE is now far superior to angels, just as the name HE received sets HIM apart from them.  To what angel did GOD say: YOU are MY son, I have begotten YOU today?  And to what angel did HE promise: I shall be a FATHER to HIM and HE will be a son to ME?  On sending HIS Firstborn to the world, GOD says: Let all the angels adore HIM." - Hebrews 1:1-6 

(The addressees of this letter were formed by a religion in which the role of the high priest, consecrated by GOD, was essential.  The author wants to show that now JESUS is the only high priest on whom people can depend.  The starting point of his argument is the unique dignity of JESUS, not a prophet or a supernatural personage like so many others, but rather, the Son of GOD.  Every word of this verse asserts that JESUS is unique, GOD born of GOD [John 1:1-14].)

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