I am reading “A History of the World in Twelve Shipwrecks”, a book by David Gibbins. It is a very interesting read. The author has a very novel way to speak about history. But it is so dense, and filled with information, that almost every other sentence you must go and pick up the Encyclopedia and the Bible to do some further research.
In many ways, it is like the book of Hebrews – very multifaceted, full of stuff and side notes. A true challenge to read! Nevertheless, very interesting read. It was written very late in the first century, when the church grew well beyond Jerusalem’s city walls.
As the church grow from the familiar setting of the apostles in a tight-knit community and extended into non-Jewish world, one of the major issues that the early church faced was the relationship between the different worldviews, traditions, and language.
On the one hand there was the universal message of redemption brought by Jesus and how it related to traditional Jewish belief and tradition.
In particular, the letter strives to answer the question that the early Jewish religious leaders made, “Jesus: Under whose authority are you teaching?” And if you read the letter under such premise, you’ll soon make sense to what the author had to say.
But for openers and, indeed, at the heart of the matter, the basic question was, “Who is Jesus” and, if Jesus was who He claimed to be, then, “What now?”
It is important here to recall that, like today, by the time of Jesus, the Jewish religion had evolved from the early days of the Patriarchs. The “Law” as it was understood at the time – and even today -- was way more than the Ten Commandments.
The religious leaders understood that whatever God ordered was a commandment as strong and valid as the Ten. For instance, the list including such things as, “Be fruitful”, “don’t mix linen and wool,” how far people should walk on the Sabbath or what to eat grew so forth, grew up to number 613 mitzvot, or commandments.
And then, suddenly Jesus appears and tells those who would listen, “You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
Jesus also told stories about personal and corporate sin, or about being judgmental. Stories that challenged the “Official” teaching and long-accepted understanding of their faith.
So, there were many very, very unhappy people.
Then, to set the record straight, the author of Hebrews underscores the centrality and the uniqueness of Jesus Christ not only as “Savior” but as the one who came to reveal God – Jesus said that he did not only spoke on behalf of God, but He was God himself speaking.
Which, as you may gather, was one of the great themes of St John’s gospel, another late book in the collection that we know as the New Testament.
You may recall the opening verses of St John’s Gospel: In the beginning there was the Logos – The Word – the One who literally incarnated whatever God had and has to say.
Further, the gospel and the letter to the Hebrews underscores what Jesus had to say: God is not a god of the past. Indeed, God is not so much interested in bringing back the past, but to build a new present and a new future.
Indeed, the word of God is a living Word. In chapter 4 verse 12, the author writes, “The word of God is living and active.” In other words, God words are life and are effective, and always point to a future – the gathering of all things in Christ Jesus.
The author of Hebrews recalls that “in ancient times and in many ways, God spoke to our ancestors through prophets and sages.” Yes, God spoke through the patriarchs and prophets, and even through the wisdom accumulated through the centuries. But that was then. Now, however, God spoke to humankind through Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God.
And what God had to say? First, God said that Jesus was appointed to be at the heart, at the center of everything. In fact, the author affirms that it was through Jesus all things were created.
Further, the author tells us that Jesus is the shining reflection of God’s own glory, the precise expression of his own very being and Jesus sustains all things through his powerful word.
In other words, if you would like to know what God may have to say about any situation, you must pay attention to what Jesus had to say. In other words, as the voice from heaven proclaimed during our Lord’s baptism, “Listen to what He has to say!”
Knowing that God speaks to us in Jesus Christ is the greatest news. But there is more. So, keep listening.
But better news is to know Jesus is not ashamed to call us his brothers and sisters.
Indeed, as we heard last Sunday from William Blake, “We are his care.” We are, if anything, God’s most precious care and concern.
Yes, in Genesis we heard that God kicked humankind out from his backyard. But now Jesus is saying, “you are my brother”, “you are my sister”, “we are family.”
In today’s gospel Jesus we recall our Lord’s words, “Let no one split apart what God has joined together.”
Of course, those are the words that we so often hear whenever there is a wedding.
But now, let me suggest this. “What if Jesus were to be saying those words about our relationship with him?”
God has joined us together in Jesus Christ. Just think about it. We are his brothers and sisters. We are God’s family. We are God’s care and concern. Isn’t it good news?
As you journey through the week, take time to think, to pray, and to praise God. Just stop the clock and think, “Jesus is my brother.”
As I was writing these lines, suddenly the old lines of a beloved Sunday School hymn came to mind. “Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so.” And what God has joined, nothing can set apart. Thanks be to God!
Fr. Gustavo
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