Small talk has never been my strong suit. I usually wait to be invited into a conversation before giving an opinion, and hardly ever initiate a conversation. It may be a character flaw, or maybe I’m just shy. I’m OK with expressing myself in writing, but I find it difficult to start a conversation when I don’t know the other person’s interest in what I may have to say. I’m finding that this is not the case lately, though. I can now get a good conversation going simply by exhaling a sigh, rolling my eyes, and saying, “Crazy times, huh?”
The last few months, and in particular the last week, has been difficult for many of us. We still aren’t even close to comfortable dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic shut down when now violence, looting, murder, and demonstrations have erupted in our cities and our neighborhoods. There’s a tremendous amount of pent up emotion, prejudice, and anger festering in our brothers and sisters, and it’s being expressed very loudly. As I’ve been reading the Gospel of Mark this week, I can’t help but draw a parallel of what’s going on in the world with the anger and hostility the religious leaders had toward Jesus. His way of life didn’t fit with their vision. And instead of listening to His message, it was easier to just get rid of Him. Mark lays out three confrontational stories back to back “to catch him in his speech.” First the Herodians and Pharisees were sent to set a trap Him in a cleverly planned situation (Mark 12:13-17). It failed. Then, the proud Sadducees challenged Him, and Jesus corrected their theology, calling these experts, “misled” (Mark 12:18-27). Third a scribe, recognizing Jesus’ skill approached Him with a question of the greatest commandment. Mark concludes this section with by stating, “And no one had the courage to ask him any more questions” (Mark 12:28-34). Now Jesus gets to speak. And those gathered round, having been silenced can do nothing but listen.
Jesus is speaking to a group of people who believe they are the authentic interpreter of scripture, especially the messianic texts. They also believe that King David was under divine inspiration when he wrote Psalm 110. So Jesus uses this knowledge. Throughout the gospel Jesus doesn’t refer to Himself as the messiah. But it’s a mystery for those who believe to ponder. Jesus points out that Psalm 110 says, “The Lord said to my lord….” In other words, the one who is God said to the one who is Messiah, “sit at my right hand…” So, how is this Messiah supposed to be David’s son? So when Jesus asked, “If David himself addresses him as ‘Lord’ in what sense can he be his son?”, they couldn’t answer His question. Nor could they see the messiah when He was staring them in the face (Mark 12:35-37).
In all these confrontational encounters Jesus created something new. The old categories were too small to hold what was emerging. And perhaps that’s where we are in society today. For many of us the world has become smaller as it has become more global. International exchange happens instantaneously. A murder in Minnesota leads to demonstrations in Europe and Japan. Something different is emerging. For many people of the earth, the old categories are too small. Personally, I don’t believe we can solve our conflictual challenges merely with human achievements or politics. I think human beings on their own accord are too selfish. But I also agree with St. Paul when he says we can get there only if and when we allow Jesus to stretch us, which requires faith and trust in the person of Jesus, and the teachings and Sacraments of His Holy Church: “But you, remain faithful to what you have learned and believed, because you know from whom you learned it, and that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” (2Timothy 3:14-17)
Good advice for crazy times, huh?
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