Our God Reigns!

By Steve Hall

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012123.cfm
Hebrews 9:2-3, 11-14
Mark 3:20-21

Before the Second Vatican Council there were only two Scripture readings at Mass rather than three. The first was usually taken from the letters of one of the Apostles or from St Paul. The more common liturgical name for these letters at that time was ‘epistle.’ Apart from the four Gospels there are only two New Testament books which are not one of these epistles or letters. One is the Book of Revelation; the second is the book titled Hebrews, the book from which we have our first reading for today.

Hebrews is the written record of a sermon, or teaching or reflection; it is not a letter. Consequently, it does not readily lend itself to the kind of excerpts we are generally given as readings for Mass. All sections, chapters, or verses are part of a unified whole. Nevertheless, we have been given just six verses from Hebrews for today’s reading.

The teaching as recorded in Hebrews follows a common Jewish oratorical pattern. It presents the various aspects of the subject matter as moving from inferior to superior, from the limited to the perfected, from the promise to the fulfillment. A clear example can be found in the opening verses.

“In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son . . . .”  (Hebrews 1:1-2)

Note the pattern. In the past God spoke to us through men with all their limitations. In the present day he has spoken to us through his Son, the one who reflects the perfection of the Father. This is the model for what follows throughout the text: From ‘Imperfect’ to ‘Perfect.’

With this in mind we can turn to today’s six verses. As would be expected, they open with what we have received from the past.

“A tabernacle was constructed, the outer one,
in which were the lampstand, the table, and the bread of offering; 
this is called the Holy Place.
Behind the second veil was the tabernacle called the Holy of Holies.”
(Mark 3:20-21)

This whole complex and more is a description of the Temple in Jerusalem which itself was a permanent version of the Tabernacle described in Exodus 25 with its very specific construction details. In the outer part the priests performed their ordinary duties including sacrifice. In the inner part, the Holy of Holies, was the Ark of the Covenant, with the tablets of the law, some of the manna by which God fed his people during their desert wanderings and Aaron’s staff. This part of the Tabernacle was entered only once a year for a brief period, and then only by the High Priest. Hebrews puts it this way:

“But into the second [the Holy of Holies] only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood which he offers for himself and for the errors of the people.” (Hebrews 9:7)

This takes us to the next two details where the author makes a distinction between the old and the new. When the Jewish High Priest entered the inmost part of the Temple it was with limited frequency and for a limited period of time.

“But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come to be, 
passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands, 
that is, not belonging to this creation, 
he entered once for all into the sanctuary. . .”

The Sanctuary Jesus enters is the heavenly Sanctuary, the place of the Father’s eternal presence. Further, he does not enter with the temporal limitations of the High Priest. Rather, as the perfect High Priest, the one without beginning and without end, he enters once and for all. In doing so he also takes the blood of sacrifice. It is “Not with the blood of goats and calves” that he comes, “but with his own Blood.” Once again we see that the movement from limited to perfect is noted.

“For if the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkling of a heifer’s ashes 
can sanctify those who are defiled 
so that their flesh is cleansed, 
how much more will the Blood of Christ, 
who through the eternal spirit offered himself unblemished to God,
cleanse our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.”

It is unquestionable that the author is describing a profound shift in the human cosmos. He does this throughout the whole of Hebrews. Here we have only a small part.

From this perspective we are appropriately led to the dynamics of the Psalm.

“God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
All you peoples, clap your hands,
shout to God with cries of gladness,
For the LORD, the Most High, the awesome,
is the great king over all the earth.”

With these verses from the Psalmist we are given the means to understand the short two lines from the Gospel.

“Jesus came with his disciples into the house. Again the crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat.”

We might better understand these verses if they were fleshed out.

The gathering of people became an enormous crowd. They followed him, trying to get his attention, trying to talk with him or just trying to hear him. They were overwhelmed by his words. Amazed by his healings. Startled by his actions. Never had they heard a man speak like this. Never had anyone dared to speak with his own authority while remaining so intimate with their heritage of teaching. They even made it impossible for him and his disciples to eat.

It was not so long ago that our country was overwhelmed with similar expectations—at least on the part of the young. Those desires too were caught up in song.

When the moon is in the Seventh House
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars

This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius
The Age of Aquarius
Aquarius! Aquarius!

Harmony and understanding
Sympathy and trust abounding
No more falsehoods or derisions
Golden living dreams of visions
Mystic crystal revelation
And the minds true liberation

Somewhere, somehow it all got sidetracked; and many were led into a bland and empty tomorrow. Where are the shouts of joy? Where the blare of trumpets for the Lord? 

We live in a new age and it is not the age of Aquarius! It is the age of Jesus Christ. Our High Priest has permanently entered the heavenly sanctuary. Moreover, he takes with him the blood of our salvation. His peace will guide the planets; his love will steer the stars. He, In himself is the mind’s true liberation. Through him our own perfection is both proffered and preferred.

Maybe the trumpet blast needs to sound once more for, as Isaiah said: Our God Reigns! (Isaiah 52:7)