(A commentary on Mark 12: 35-37)
Sacred Scripture
As Jesus was teaching in the temple area he said, “How do the scribes claim that the Messiah is the son of David? David himself, inspired by the Holy Spirit, said: The Lord said to my lord, ‘Sit at my right hand until I place your enemies under your feet.’ David himself calls him ‘lord’; so how is he his son?” The great crowd heard this with delight. (Mark 12:35-37)
Reflection
In today’s Gospel, we find Jesus pointing out the deeper meaning of Scripture. After having been interrogated by the Scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees in the Temple area, Jesus finally asks a question himself, something to show that the scribes the reality of who the Messiah truly is.
Jesus affirms that the Holy Spirit inspired David in the writing of the Psalms, since “all Scripture is inspired by God.” But then he says that the Scribes themselves are unable to solve that enigma, as to why David’s descendent would be called “Lord.” It wasn’t just because he was the Messiah. Jesus, of course, is the answer to that question and he was trying to open them up for it.
Mark tells us at the end of the passage, “The great crowd heard this with delight,” not just because the proud Scribes were a little humbled, but because they were brought more deeply into the mystery and depth of Sacred Scripture.
They were brought into the truth. Not the “truth” of the Pharisees. Not the” truth” of the Sadducees. Certainly, not the “truth” of the Romans. Each of the groups saw their world through their own distorted lens.
Truth is that too many Christians today see the world through distorted lenses. Depending on whether you watch Fox or CNN, the distortion is magnified. Politicians delight at the gullibility of people who do not form their own opinion but rather spout the words of their favorite newscaster. And so, the “duping of America” goes on.
For the Christian, there is only one reality. One truth. The very words of Jesus Christ. Words that should not only illume our lives but bring us to a deeper peace and a deeper realization of how much we are loved. Words that should shape the manner in which we live our lives.
Those words are not burdensome. Those words are not difficult.
If they are then it means that we are rooted in the pleasures of the world. Rather than accept Jesus Christ as our Lord, we are saying that there is a more important Lord. And when those words “chafe,” it’s because our inner self, rooted in Jesus, is telling us that we are drifting.
If peace is eluding you, if happiness is only momentary, if you constantly feel at odds, you can know “delight” as the listeners in today’s Gospel did by opening your life to the words of Jesus Christ. His presence in your life will outweigh any other passing attachment or pleasure you may have.
The delight in knowing the Lord is something that continually draws you higher and fulfills you more deeply every day
So here is a suggestion for you. Tune off the media. Stop spouting their perceptions. They are peddling their perspective while they live, breathe, and sleep on ratings. Ratings bring them money.
A Christian’s rating comes from recognizing that she/he is living the words of Jesus Christ. That is what defines a Christian. Not an editorial opinion, not a conspiracy theory, not an earful or a mouthful of rants and raves.
Rather the inner peace that comes from knowing that the Lord walks beside you, fills you and will bring you home to His Father.
Prayer of The Day
“Lord, I desire to delight in You. Help me to turn away from the many attractions and enticements of this world. Help me to seek You and Your Word always. In the discovery of Your Word, fill my soul with the greatest delight. Jesus, I trust in You. “
Daily Note
The Lord and Master of our lives is the person or thing we give our lives over to and submit to in a full way. We can be ruled by many things – our possessions, the love of money, our unruly passions, alcohol, drugs, and other forms of addictions. Only one Lord and Master can truly set us free to love and serve others selflessly and to be loved as God intended from the beginning. When we acknowledge that Jesus is Lord we invite him to be the king of our heart, master of our home, our thoughts, our relationships, and everything we do. Is the Lord Jesus the true king and master of your heart and do you give him free reign in every area of your life?
