Fr. T. Kelly – Gethsemani Homily Retreat Thursday – January 21, 2021
We continue our retreat reflection using the day’s liturgy texts.
The Epistle to the Hebrews was probably a homily in its original form. You might count your blessings at least in the sense that these homilies a little shorter than the Epistle being commented on.
The author opens with words that are most encouraging that if one approaches God through Jesus, the High Prist, he is able to save us. Jesus is then described as holy. In the scriptures such a person is described as one who faithfully does his duty to God. The Holy person is goodness which is pure in the sight of God. The author goes on to describe him as innocent. Such a person is cleansed of all evil. It is a person who would never hurt another person physically or spiritually. He is undefiled in other words he is freed of all the blemishes that the law says makes a person or an offering impure. Jesus is described as separated from sinners: not in the sense that he is not human but rather thought tempted like all of us, Jesus did not sin. The reference higher than heavens refers to Jesus being exalted to the right hand of God.
Further difference between Jesus the high priest and the high priest from the tribe of Levi is that he does not have to offer a sin offering for his own sins before offering the sacrifice for the people since Jesus the High Priest is the sinless one. This High Priest in the true sanctuary of heaven has to offer gifts and sacrifices. Jesus offers himself. The prefect High Priest offers the one acceptable sacrifice. He alone could be the sin offering for all the people; he alone could open the way to God because he alone was the perfect sacrifice who gave his life that we may have life.
It is difficult to understand. It is a mystery of Faith! The whole mystery of the Incarnation and Jesus’ hanging of the Cross is impossible to understand. It was only Jesus, the Son of God who could be the perfect offering that could open the way for our return to God. It is not an offering to placate an angry God. It is offering of God himself; God giving his Son so that we might live in his love. It is Jesus the Son showing us how to live, showing us how to give our life for the other so that we all might live in eternity.
Our Gospel text is a transition from the more personal encounters of Jesus who is powerful in word and deed but who will suffer real opposition. Jesus and his disciples withdrew but were followed by such a crowd that flocked to Jesus that arrangements had to be made for a boat available to preach from and/or to escape. The ministry of healing seems to be the real drawing element. Physical health and wellbeing are expressions of our desire for life which expands into our desire for eternal life.
And there is that more interesting element that it is the demons who are urged to be silent proclaiming Jesus as the Son of God. In one of the opening episodes in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus is in the local Synagogue and the possessed person screaming 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!” And here in this crowd it is the demons that recognise Jesus as the Son of God. This of course points to the final trial of Jesus and one of the accusations that called for his death. The Son of God reference also reminds of Psalm 2 and its reference to the adaptive Son who will be protected. Our Gospel text reminds us of Jesus ministry this far and indicates the opposition that is present.
I suppose we could ask where would we be in such a crowd; would we even be there? I don’t like crowds so I doubt I would be there! If we needed physical healing certainly we would be there. But in truth what type of follower of Jesus are we?