One more time, It’s Mark Gates. On a faith filled and spiritual note, I am so
very glad to bring you along with me into the ‘pre-game’ of LENT! Our 2
readings today are very long, so, abbreviated. I know that I do this all of the
time, But, Please, read them completely! The Word of God is always,
definitely, valuable…I promise. I will give you verses 1, 2 &10 of Sirach.
Reading 1, Sirach 1:1-10, All wisdom comes from the LORD and with him, it
remains forever, and is, before all time! The sand of the seashore, the drops of
rain, the days of eternity: who can number these? **Heaven’s height, earth’s
breadth, the depths of the abyss: who can explore these? Before all things else,
wisdom was created. **It is the LORD; he created her through the Holy Spirit, has
seen her and taken note of her. He has poured her forth upon all His works, upon
every living thing according to His bounty. He has lavished her upon his friends.
.
***Sirach along with Proverbs and Song of Songs speak of Wisdom as
a loving woman. This is precisely why I consider (For ME) the Holy spirit to
be a woman, Lady Wisdom. All 3 books also confirm that Wisdom was at the
dawn of Creation. The Holy Spirit is further documented as an Advocate,
descending like a Dove, placed as Tongues of Fire, and passing by a cave
entrance as a Whisper of a Voice! So why not a woman? **NONE of this
should take away from my absolutely wonderful and powerful relationship
with the Holy Spirit!!
Psalm 93:1ab, 1cd-2, 5, The LORD is king, in splendor robed!! Robed is the
LORD and girt about with strength. And, he has made the world firm, not to be
moved. **Your throne stands firm from of old; from everlasting you are, O LORD.
Your decrees are worthy of trust indeed: holiness befits your house, O LORD, for
length of days… Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life to
light through the Gospel. The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty!
***If I wanted to be lazy, I could just let that last line-response just hang in
the air and stand alone until it decided to reside in your heart.��. But more to
the point, think of majesty. In our lifetimes we have experienced Queen
Elizabeth ll and Princess Diana. While both women were dressed fashionably
by the most distinguished designers available, they also were very age
appropriate… Beautiful. When the royals had ‘official’ duties, they were
dressed to the 9s!! There was not a hair or movement out of place. These
two women were well loved. poised, Majestic for this modern day.
**In Jesus’ years, purple was all the rage. It may still be. Whenever I see
purple, I always think about Jesus’ Majesty… & then my wife’s favorite color.
Purple togas, purple sheets, purple robes, gold clasps, golden breastplates, it
was all over the top, un-necessary opulence. You absolutely knew who the
emperor / king was!! Food for thought: do we recognize “Our King” in our
brothers and sisters throughout our day(s)? Are they dressed in purple?
Tatters? Would we want to dine with them on a park bench or street curb.
Just to be fair, as much as I might, my handicap doesn’t allow to sit anywhere
but my wheelchair. I physically can’t minister in this way. But I do strain
everyday to see Jesus in my fellow man, always if possible. **Majesty:
mountains, canyons, pyramids and our brothers and sisters, one and all!!
Gospel, Mark 9:14-29, As Jesus came down from the mountain with
Peter, James, John and approached the other disciples, they saw a large crowd
around them and scribes arguing with them. Immediately on seeing him, the whole
crowd was utterly amazed. They ran up to him and greeted him. He asked them,
“What are you arguing about with them?”
Someone from the crowd answered him. “Teacher, I have brought to you my son
possessed by a mute spirit. Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams
at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it
out, but they were unable to do so.” **He said to them in reply, “O faithless
generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring him to
me.” They brought the boy to him. And when he saw him, the spirit immediately
threw the boy into convulsions. As he fell to the ground, he began to roll around
and foam at the mouth. Then Jesus questioned his father, “How long has this been
happening to him?”
*He replied, “Since childhood. It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill
him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
**Jesus said to him, “‘If you can?’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.”
Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!” Jesus, on seeing
a crowd rapidly gathering, rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it, “Mute and deaf
spirit, I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!” Shouting and
throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out. He became like a corpse, which
caused many to say, “He is dead!” But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him,
and he stood up. When he entered the house, His disciples asked Him in private,
“Why could we not drive the spirit out?” He said to them, “This kind can only come
out through prayer.”
Well, I must admit, my mind is a little muddy about what to pick to reflect on
with this Gospel. First, Jesus is coming down from His Transfiguration! This major
biblical event is my favorite. Out Of all of the events and places I wish I could have
been in Jesus’ day, the Transfiguration is it. Think about it, Jesus is Transfigured,
Moses and Elijah join Him. And finally, God speaks out loud and for the last
time(?) recorded in the bible. What is God’s advice, “Listen to Him”! Talk about
Majesty!! Not to ruin this moment, but my silly mind would’ve hoped for some of
the transfiguration dust & glitter to blow on me a little. �� Secondly, there’s an
argument with the scribes… For crying out loud, Jesus can’t shake these guys for
a minute. Scribes are a constant pain in the neck. Thirdly, The Apostles are a little
rusty on their ‘casting out of demons’ abilities. Luckily, Jesus lets them off the hook
by saying some afflictions can only be cast out by ‘Prayer’! Fourth, This demon is
driven to kill this young man. Only his father’s commitment as a parent keeps him
alive, until Jesus. Finally: At Jesus’ baptism God speaks: “This is my Son, in whom
I am well-pleased”, Mother Mary at the Cana wedding tells the servants, and Us,
“Do what ever He tells you”, Finally God says, “Listen to Him!” Amazingly, so few
words and yet, they come from the greatest and most devoted sources in Jesus
life. So simple, and yet… hard? Let us resolve that this Lent will not be marked
by denial. Let us urge ourselves to push our faith life forward in gladness, “All-In”
and ‘positively’ resolve to “LISTEN to HIM!!” “PRAY”
Happy Lent to All. Everyone please enjoy our Blessed Trinity & The Word.
Shalom and may all of God’s Love be yours! Mark G.
