Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time / Msgr. Owen F. Campion
The Sunday Readings
The first reading for this weekend is from the Book of Isaiah, precisely from its third and last part.
Isaiah on several occasions describes or refers to a loyal and devoted servant of God who endures outrageous insults and severe misfortunes. Yet this servant never despairs, nor does he ever rebel against these unhappy events as they come to him.
Furthermore, good prevails through and from these sufferings. It prevails in his own faithfulness. And the glory of God shines through all that happens.
While these verses were written centuries before Christ, Church tradition has always seen in them a prefigurement of our gentle Savior, the innocent lamb of God, sinless and merciful, good and perfect, but also the victim of viciousness and indifference.
As its second reading for this weekend, the Church presents a selection from the Epistle to the Hebrews.
As typical throughout Hebrews, the reading is strong in its Old Testament imagery, especially in the symbolism of the ancient rituals of the Jewish temple.
In the year 70, the Romans destroyed the temple in an act of reprisal after the Jews unsuccessfully attempted to revolt against Rome. The priests were killed or scattered. The old rituals came to an end. They have not yet been restored.
However, for the first two-thirds of the first century, these ceremonies—in which priests, a high priest, sacrifices, and victims of sacrifices figured—were familiar to young and old, great and small, among the Jews.
The Letter to the Hebrews is more than a chronicle of Jewish custom and history. It sees Jesus as the great high priest. The sacrifice is the Lord’s sacrifice on Calvary. He is the victim. His sacrifice brings about true reconciliation with God.
The reading also reminds us that Jesus, the Son of God, also was human as are we, yet he never sinned. He was tempted, however. He loves us. He understands us.
St. Mark’s Gospel supplies the last reading.
In this reading, two Apostles approach Jesus. They are James and John, the sons of Zebedee. The forecasts by Jesus of the coming of a new kingdom of God to the world have intrigued them. Yet they misunderstand the true meaning of this kingdom.
Presuming it has earthly properties, they want to have privileged places in it. They ask the Lord to give them these high places.
Jesus replies, reminding them that the path to the new kingdom will be neither swift nor smooth. To progress along this path, any disciple must identify with Christ in his fullness, abandoning themselves, their self-interest and comfort to be like Jesus. They must be willing to sacrifice themselves entirely.
Reflection
The Lord came into the world as the Redeemer. His mission was to rescue humanity from its own plight, a plight created by willful sin, voluntary rejection of God and from powers beyond any human’s control.
Recent Hurricanes Helene and Milton, with their destruction and deadliness, remind us vividly of the vulnerability of humans before forces utterly beyond them. Sin also is powerful in its ability to destroy and to kill. Untold numbers since time began are its victims. Sin is the most vicious of dangers. It leads to eternal pain and death.
In many cases, for individuals or for nations, sin reigns supreme. These readings call us to face all these realities. We are weak, limited and short-sighted, prey to the devil, sinners.
It is not a story of inevitable doom, because Jesus provides insight and strength to live holy lives.
True believers swim upstream. But, if they ask for it, God’s help will come.
We can survive. We can be safe, if we live only for Christ. †