Undeniably great is the mystery of devotion,
Who was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated in the spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed to the Gentiles,
believed in throughout the world,
taken up in glory.
[Let me begin with a "by the way," because I misunderstood this for a long time, and I think a lot of people do. The responsorial psalm is read in a responsive fashion, as the lector or [cantor sings and the congregation responds. It is not a response to the first reading.]
Our responsorial psalm today celebrates the great works of the Lord. They are too numerous to mention, but the phrase first appears as the freed slaves emerge from the Red Sea and their slavers perish under its flood. Great works continue as the LORD leads his grumbling, suspicious people into the desert where he provides manna, meat, and water, where their clothes do not tatter and their shoes do not wear out despite forty years of wandering.
"How great are the works of the Lord!" picks up the thrill of our first reading, which is a snatch of a song about Jesus Christ. that "mystery of devotion, who was manifested in the flesh...."
Those six lines are a brief, but exciting recap of the Lord's divine mission among human beings, from his incarnation within the womb of the Virgin to his proclamation throughout the whole world. I am often amazed, as I read the New Testament, at the vision of that early Church which was so certain that their numbers would grow and the entire world would come to know the Lord as they did. They were hardly a blip on the Roman radar -- little more than a ripple in the Jewish world -- and yet they knew God was working a mighty work among them. A mighty work which the entire world would see, welcome, and acclaim. The entire world would be saved by our announcement.
And yet its beginnings are so small and so discouraging. The Lord himself complains, as we hear in today's Gospel, about the poor reception he receives among his own people, the people to whom he is sent. They will not dance when he pipes a jig, nor weep when he sings a dirge.
They quibble about what the Messiah should look like even as he stands directly in front of them. They're like people who've come to the airport to meet a long lost relative. They're eager to see and greet him, but their photos of him are sixty years old. When an old man approaches them with tears of joy and open arms they push him away since he looks nothing like his pictures.
We should not be surprised if the gospel meets the same reception among self-described Christians today. There are many who hear socialist teaching in phrases like compassion, turn the other cheek and love your enemies. They will neither dance nor weep to the Lord's music.
Only a few, those enlightened by the Holy Spirit, those familiar with the Word of God who know his voice in their hearts even before he appears in the flesh, dance to his jig and weep with his dirge. Only a few recognize his Mighty Career from birth to death to resurrection, ascension, and enthronement at the Father's right hand.
No comments:
Post a Comment
I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.