Month: January 2013

REFLECTION ON THE DAILY GOSPEL THE UNFORGIVABLE SIN 28 JANUARY 2013

/ Michael J. Cunningham / Leave a comment

 

HOLY SPIRIT

We spend much of our time as Christians in the firm belief that every sin is forgivable, however today’s Gospel of Mark tells another story. Perhaps it is impossible today for someone to commit the sin outlined in Mark 3. Because the Pharisees at the time did not want to accept that Jesus’s power was indeed divine and his healing powers invoked the power of the Holy Spirit, instead they said they his powers were derived from the devil.

Aside from the fact that is is not much of a contest between God and devil when it comes to real match up (aside when our human free will plays its part), it is unimaginable that Jesus would drive out demons from the “unclean spirits” from those needing healing. Particularly if you accept the argument of the Pharisees that he is an agent of the devil. Getting rid of evil spirits of his own making? I don’t think so.

However, it does make you think about some of the arguments made today that vilify Jesus and the sources that make them. Many of these are atheists, who you could argue don’t believe in God, therefore are not blaspheming in the same way at the Pharisees who were believers, but did not want to recognize the power of Jesus, feeling it would reduce their own. (Source: New Jerome Biblical Commentary, Raymond Brown, p604)  

THE DAILY GOSPEL AND READINGS 28 JANUARY 2013

/ Michael J. Cunningham / Leave a comment
Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Lectionary: 317

Reading 1 Heb 9:15, 24-28

Christ is mediator of a new covenant:
since a death has taken place
for deliverance from transgressions under the first covenant,
those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.
For Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands,
a copy of the true one, but heaven itself,
that he might now appear before God on our behalf.
Not that he might offer himself repeatedly,
as the high priest enters each year into the sanctuary
with blood that is not his own;
if that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedly
from the foundation of the world.
But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages
to take away sin by his sacrifice.
Just as it is appointed that human beings die once,
and after this the judgment, so also Christ,
offered once to take away the sins of many,
will appear a second time, not to take away sin
but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.

Responsorial Psalm PS 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6

R. (1a) Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

Gospel Mk 3:22-30

The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said of Jesus,
“He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and
“By the prince of demons he drives out demons.”
Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables,
“How can Satan drive out Satan?
If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
And if a house is divided against itself,
that house will not be able to stand.
And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided,
he cannot stand;
that is the end of him.
But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property
unless he first ties up the strong man.
Then he can plunder his house.
Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies
that people utter will be forgiven them.
But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit
will never have forgiveness,
but is guilty of an everlasting sin.”
For they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.