Word to the Wise
Thursday, January 20, 2011 - Tuesday in the Second Week in Ordinary Time
[Hebrews 7:1-3, 15-17 and Mark 3:1-6]Jesus entered the synagogue. There was a man there who had a withered hand. They watched Jesus closely to see if he would cure him on the sabbath so that they might accuse him......[Mark]
It is clear from the first few chapters of the Gospel According to Mark (which is featured during the "A" cycle of readings) that Jesus is not going to avoid using his power to heal or demonstrate his authority, even if he tries to keep people from talking about it! The scribes and Pharisees are not accustomed to being confronted with the implications of their strict interpretations of the Mosaic Law. In this case, it is a matter of healing on the sabbath, which would have been considered "work" in their eyes and therefore forbidden. Their reaction is a violent one. We are told that they begin to plot with the local political authorities to find a way to get rid of Jesus.
The drama of good versus evil thus begins to play itself out in the gospel. But it is not just a matter of "white hats" versus "black hats." There is the crowd which is fickle and unstable. As long as Jesus is healing, his fame spreads. But if he becomes vulnerable, they will turn on him. So there are a lot of "gray hats" in the mix. Such folks become more "jurors" than believers. In the Gospel of Mark, the decisive moment comes with the death and resurrection of Jesus. Until then, there are a lot of observers and debaters. We know where the scribes and Pharisees stand. Do we know where WE stand? AMEN
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