We are given a spiritual dignity not unlike Melchizedek
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Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.
By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor
A reflection on the daily readings, for Wednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time, by Father Perry.
+ Contrasting likenesses are rampant in the Bible.
It is certainly so today.
In Hebrews we hear of Melchizedek, the priest who has been raised up and, “thus made to resemble the Son of God — to remain a priest forever, having the power of a life that cannot be destroyed.”
This description was and has been aptly applied to the person of Jesus, recognizing especially the “power of a life that cannot be destroyed — forever!”
What a timeless and elegant and profoundly and spiritually rich account of the person of Jesus the Christ, Son of God.
+ And yet, in contrast we are given early in Mark Chapter 3 — not blessing, but murderous hatred of Jesus via the Pharisees.
Several sources attest to the fact or of at least the strong opinion that most murders are not committed out of hatred, but out of anger.
In a moment, anger can be unleashed and rage within a person, and all control is lost.
Hitting a person in anger, or hitting a person in intense anger grabbing an ax and hitting them can have deadly results — and often does.
But in Chapter 3 of Mark, the Pharisees not only experience anger, but hatred also is born and nurtured in an instant and in response to Jesus’ act of love on a sabbath day, resulting in the healing of a man’s withered and useless hand.
Their anger turns into a plot — or at least the beginnings of one.
They immediately (sounds like anger) went out and took counsel (that is, began to plot) with the Herodians against him (Jesus) to “put him to death (this definitely took the final turn and morphed into true hatred, and the results would end up on a Cross).
Interesting detail; another anger is mentioned in the Gospel.
This was the anger of Jesus at the Pharisees; it does not suggest that Jesus responded with anger. He just “looked around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart.”
Anger turned to grief — and later on that Cross — turned to love and forgiveness.
If there was or is any doubt about the Godliness of Jesus, here it is revealed again.
+ And what about us? Do we experience anger? Hatred? Grief?
What do we do with these things? How do they affect us?
Are we able to pass through them without getting stuck and numbed and paralyzed, unable to wrench free from them?
In baptism we are all anointed Priest, Prophet, and King — by oil and the Holy Spirit!
We are given a spiritual dignity not unlike Melchizedek, a priest forever.
Blessed by this word of God, we are all offered the opportunity. We, indeed, are called to wrestle with our anger, seek to be rescued from the threat of impending hatred, and arrive at the blessed and graced openness of heart.
Wee see and hear through the example of Jesus who and what and how we can live like the one who was given to us — the High Priest forever — and discover the Life and Love that indeed will carry us into eternal life.
Father Perry D. Leiker is the 13th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at pleiker@stbernard-church.com. Follow Father Perry on Twitter: @MrDeano76.
