October 6, 2024
Revised Common Lectionary
Job 1:1; 2:1-10 or Genesis 2:18-24
Psalm 26 or Psalm 8
Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12
Mark 10:2-16
Lectionary for Mass (RC)
Genesis 2:18-24
Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6 (see 5)
Hebrews 2:9-11
Mark 10:2-12 (13-16)
The following reflection is based on today’s Epistle reading from Hebrews. You may view a reflection on today’s Gospel reading here.
In a famous encounter with his disciples, Jesus asked who people were saying that he was. Finally, however, he cut to the most crucial of questions for them and for every generation of Christians since then: “But who do you say that I am?” (My 16:15; Mk 8:29; Lk 9:20)
Today’s Epistle reading, taken from the Letter to the Hebrews, is directly related to this question of Jesus’s identity. Actually, this book is not a letter at all, but rather an extended homily that deals with the issue of who Jesus is from several different perspectives. Pastors tend to avoid sermons on Hebrews because of its dense theological language and its focus on sacrifice and blood. It’s way easier to preach about the familiar and very engaging teachings of Jesus or about his deeds of compassion and inclusion. Those texts from the life of Jesus are easily relatable to our everyday experience and our deep longings.
But it’s worth the effort to read and reflect on the message of Hebrews, because it was written for Christians like us. The people who first heard the message of Hebrews were probably not even alive during the lifetime of Jesus but relied on the testimony of others to understand their faith.
Today’s passage comes from the very first part of this well-crafted sermon. While God has spoken to humans “in many and various ways” (Heb 1:1), the author of Hebrews writes that Jesus surpasses all of these, because he himself is “the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being.” He speaks a word that not only communicates important messages; he “sustains all things by his powerful word” (Heb 1:3).
Here is an amazing two-sided mystery. On the one hand, this man who lived, taught, served, died, and rose, is God among us. On the other hand, the eternal God who is beyond all understanding has chosen to embrace our human life fully so that God’s word may come to us in a person. In Jesus, God not only communicates with us but takes on our weakness, our sin, our suffering, and even our death.
We have not been left to ourselves, but in Christ we have been enfolded into the very life of God. As we hear in today’s reading, “the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters” (Heb 2:12). The Holy One who spoke to Moses has sent the Son into the world so that we all might be children of God.
This understanding of Christ is an affirmation of our dignity and worth, and it is also a challenge for us who enjoy the privilege of hearing and accepting this message. All people and all of creation are transformed and renewed by this vision. If God has so identified with sinful humanity and taken a lowly place in creation, then how important it is for us to care for one another and for the world that God has loved into being!
On this World Communion Sunday, as we “make eucharist,” or “give thanks” for God’s gift of self, let us recommit ourselves to protecting, preserving, and fostering the good of all people and all created things.
A Hymn for Today: “O splendor of God’s glory bright”
This fourth-century Latin hymn by Ambrose of Milan (d. 397) identifies Christ with the light that shines each morning and throughout the day. The singing community seeks the light of Christ’s presence at every moment and, in keeping with the message of today’s reading from Hebrews, prays to Christ that “we ever clearly view / our Savior and our God in you.”
O Splendor of God’s glory bright,
from light eternal bringing light;
O Light of Light, light’s living spring,
true Day, all days illumining.
Come, Holy Sun of heavenly love,
rain down your radiance from above,
and to our inward hearts convey
the Holy Spirit’s cloudless ray.
O joyful be the passing day
with thoughts as clear as morning’s ray,
with faith like noontide shining bright,
our souls unshadowed by the night.
O Lord, with each returning morn,
your image to our heart is born;
O may we ever clearly view
our Savior and our God in you.
Text: Ambrose of Milan, c. 374; trans. Composite
Tune: PUER NOBIS NASCITUR, WINCHESTER NEW, SOLEMNIS HAEC FESTIVITAS
Image Credit: The Rising Sun, Wikimedia Commons
“Word and Song: A Lectionary Reflection” is written by the Executive Director of The Hymn Society, Rev. Dr. Mike McMahon. For his full bio, click here and scroll down to the “staff” section.
To receive these weekly reflections by email, please send a message to office@thehymnsociety.org and type “Lectionary” in the subject line.