Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/102112.cfm

A bee goes about his business

Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, 
Jesus, the Son of God, 
let us hold fast to our confession. 
For we do not have a high priest 
who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, 
but one who has similarly been tested in every way, 
yet without sin.  

Perhaps because I am a priest the Letter to the Hebrews has grown on me through the years. Although its language is mystical and its references to Melchizedek and other ancient figures are mysterious -- or perhaps because of that -- I find it more and more fascinating. 

But most of all the figure of Jesus captures my attention. He is clearly and undeniably human. He would mean nothing to us, or to the Author of Hebrews, were he not a truly human and historical figure. This Jesus of Nazareth, the child of Mary, who lived in Galilee and died in Jerusalem just a little while ago, we know as the Son of God. He has "passed through the heaven" and into the Holy of Holies which is the Very Presence of God. Is that really possible for a human being? Especially for the human creature whom we have always known as "mortal?" 

I think it would be possible to preach on the doctrine of the Incarnation every weekend for a lifetime and never come to the end of it. We'd hardly scratch the surface of it. And, if the truth be told, we do preach the Incarnation in one form or another, every weekend and every day. Any sermon that would address Christian morality or Christian doctrine and dismiss the person of Jesus cannot be Christian. 

In today's brief reading from Hebrews we remember the weakness of Jesus, and that he was "similarly... tested in every way." What use is a hero to me if he is not weak as I am weak?

Hollywood often throws invincible heroes at us. Although they are shot at, beaten, knifed, exploded and hanged by their thumbs they just keep on coming, like the Energizer Bunny. Some of them are dressed up like superheroes, some have super-human powers, and some are supposed to be ordinary flesh except that their enemies are hopelessly incompetent marksmen, martial artists, wrestlers, sluggers and biters. How is it possible that fifty-five people can shoot at you with sub-machine guns and everyone of them miss? I mean, what are the odds? And have you noticed how the Hollywood heroes always know how to operate every weapon that was ever created, even the computers? Why is it my computer never works that well? 

The Jesus whom we meet in the New Testament is not a hero of that ilk. When he is cut he bleeds, when he is beaten he bruises, and when he is crucified he dies. If he enjoys any extraordinary privilege it's when he is abused, he doesn't take it personally. He knows this is what we do to one another, and he suffers it willingly with us. 

Jesus, as the Author says, was never ashamed to call us his brothers and sisters; and when we see him vilified and crucified, we must not be ashamed to call him our God and Lord. He has carried our weakness, foolishness, guilt and shame into the very presence of God and returned with blessings.