Proud to Be Human
Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
“But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” Mark 10:6-8
Today’s passage from Mark’s Gospel is in the context of Jesus’ teaching about the kingdom, or reign, of God. A common understanding was that entering the kingdom was based on family origin, or achievement, or status in the community. Jesus pushes back on this, and presents a child as a model of receptivity and openness.
This is not to suggest that adults must somehow reject the wisdom gained through adult experience and return to childhood. Adult maturity also includes the difficult journey, usually later in life, of letting go of illusions that we have built up about our own virtue, skills, and autonomy. Jesus’ teaching pushes back against our culture, which honors energy and vigor, expertise and achievement. These valuable gifts can fail us if we cannot accept our dependence on God who provides and cultivates these gifts. We can accept God’s graciousness sin our life when we open our hearts as a child does.
This is the first of seven consecutive Sundays that we will share passages from the Letter to the Hebrews. The letter is
san extended sermon by an unknown author directed to a Christian community where likely many were converts from Judaism. The author attempts to link Jesus to the story of the people of Israel, building toward an image of Christ as God’s perfect high priest. Christ the High Priest is described as the central link between humanity and God.
When we reflect upon the life and death of Jesus, we can more deeply accept that through Jesus, God knows what
we humans experience. Jesus the High Priest embraces his humanity. In today’s passage, the author claims that Jesus is proud to be human, proud to be our brother in the family of God. The letter to the Hebrews is not only a celebration of Christ, it is an affirmation of the dignity of our own human life.
Readings for the Week
Monday: Jon 1:1 — 2:2, 11; Jon 2:3-5, 8; Lk 10:25-37
Tuesday: Jon 3:1-10; Ps 130:1b-4ab, 7-8; Lk 10:38-42
Wednesday: Jon 4:1-11; Ps 86:3-6, 9-10; Lk 11:1-4
Thursday: Mal 3:13-20b; Ps 1:1-4, 6; Lk 11:5-13
Friday: Jl 1:13-15; 2:1-2; Ps 9:2-3, 6, 16, 8-9; Lk 11:15-26
Saturday: Jl 4:12-21; Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12; Lk 11:27-28
Sunday: Wis 7:7-11; Ps 90:12-17; Heb 4:12-13; Mk 10:17-30 [17-27]
Saints & Special Observances
Sunday: Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time; Respect Life Sunday
Monday: St. Francis of Assisi
Tuesday: Bl. Francis Xavier Seelos
Wednesday: St. Bruno; Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher
Thursday: Our Lady of the Rosary
Saturday: St. Denis and Companions; St. John Leonardi; Blessed Virgin Mary