Daily Retreat 01/24/09
2009 Jan 24 Sat: Francis de Sales, bp, rf, dr M
Heb 9: 2-3. 11-14/ Ps 46(47): 2-3. 6-7. 8-9/ Mk 3: 20-21
From today’s readings: “ He entered once for all into the sanctuary, not with the blood of goats and calves but with His own Blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.... God mounts His throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.... When His relatives heard of this they set out to seize Him, for they said, ‘He is out of his mind.’ ”
Craziness
Today’s Gospel passage is not only the shortest daily reading in the entire lectionary (a mere two verses), but’s it’s also one of the most difficult to interpret, especially taken, as it is, out of its wider context. Evidently, the compilers of the lectionary wanted the congregation to be confronted with the abrasiveness of verse 21, for otherwise, today’s verses could have easily been read with the eight ensuing verses assigned for Monday.
First, there are a few translation issues to be considered. Because of an ambiguity in the original Greek text, verse 21 could be rendered, “When His relatives heard, they went out to take control of it (viz., the demanding crowd mentioned in the previous verse), for they were saying it was beside itself.” This interpretation would neatly remove the distastefulness of recording that some of the closest people to Jesus thought He was crazy. But, while such a translation is defensible, based on word usage patterns in Mark’s Gospel, most scripture scholars would hold that a stronger case could be made for the more straightforward and traditional translation, “... they went out to take control of Him....”
Now, what were they saying about Him? The American lectionary reads, “... they said, ‘He is out of his mind.’ ” However, other translations put it, “He is beside himself.” Both are acceptable translations, but the second reads a bit less harshly to pious listeners, since, given the demands of the pushy crowd, it is certainly understandable that the Lord’s relatives would be worried about His perhaps being overwhelmed with the frenzy of His work.
However, even granted the possibility that such legitimate translation possibilities exist, the compilers and translators of our lectionary wanted us to face head-on the traditional rendering, viz., that those close to Jesus were saying that He was insane!
You or I would never say such a thing about our Lord, of course. And yet, when we read the Gospels attentively, and consider the full impact of what Jesus did and said, and when we take seriously what He demands that His followers likewise do and say, then can’t we sometimes detect a little voice of doubt in our own hearts that also seems to say, “He can’t really mean that - that’s impossible - He’s crazy!”
Interestingly enough, in his letters, St. Paul didn’t hesitate to admit that Christ’s whole life certainly appears as utter madness to the world (see, for instance, 1Cor. 1:23, 2:14ff, 4:10). For, if solely secular standards of sanity are sanctioned, then Christ indeed is crazy! But, when Christ and His sanctity are seen as the sole sane standard of salvation, then really, it’s only our world that’s crazy, not our Lord!
Heb 9: 2-3. 11-14/ Ps 46(47): 2-3. 6-7. 8-9/ Mk 3: 20-21
From today’s readings: “ He entered once for all into the sanctuary, not with the blood of goats and calves but with His own Blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.... God mounts His throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.... When His relatives heard of this they set out to seize Him, for they said, ‘He is out of his mind.’ ”
Craziness
Today’s Gospel passage is not only the shortest daily reading in the entire lectionary (a mere two verses), but’s it’s also one of the most difficult to interpret, especially taken, as it is, out of its wider context. Evidently, the compilers of the lectionary wanted the congregation to be confronted with the abrasiveness of verse 21, for otherwise, today’s verses could have easily been read with the eight ensuing verses assigned for Monday.
First, there are a few translation issues to be considered. Because of an ambiguity in the original Greek text, verse 21 could be rendered, “When His relatives heard, they went out to take control of it (viz., the demanding crowd mentioned in the previous verse), for they were saying it was beside itself.” This interpretation would neatly remove the distastefulness of recording that some of the closest people to Jesus thought He was crazy. But, while such a translation is defensible, based on word usage patterns in Mark’s Gospel, most scripture scholars would hold that a stronger case could be made for the more straightforward and traditional translation, “... they went out to take control of Him....”
Now, what were they saying about Him? The American lectionary reads, “... they said, ‘He is out of his mind.’ ” However, other translations put it, “He is beside himself.” Both are acceptable translations, but the second reads a bit less harshly to pious listeners, since, given the demands of the pushy crowd, it is certainly understandable that the Lord’s relatives would be worried about His perhaps being overwhelmed with the frenzy of His work.
However, even granted the possibility that such legitimate translation possibilities exist, the compilers and translators of our lectionary wanted us to face head-on the traditional rendering, viz., that those close to Jesus were saying that He was insane!
You or I would never say such a thing about our Lord, of course. And yet, when we read the Gospels attentively, and consider the full impact of what Jesus did and said, and when we take seriously what He demands that His followers likewise do and say, then can’t we sometimes detect a little voice of doubt in our own hearts that also seems to say, “He can’t really mean that - that’s impossible - He’s crazy!”
Interestingly enough, in his letters, St. Paul didn’t hesitate to admit that Christ’s whole life certainly appears as utter madness to the world (see, for instance, 1Cor. 1:23, 2:14ff, 4:10). For, if solely secular standards of sanity are sanctioned, then Christ indeed is crazy! But, when Christ and His sanctity are seen as the sole sane standard of salvation, then really, it’s only our world that’s crazy, not our Lord!
posted by FrPitstick | 1/23/2009
<< Home