Sermon Tone Analysis

Title

The Word of God Discerns

Outline

As a youth I read a book entitled The Shining Sword

While no longer listed for sale, this was a book about Scripture in which the Sword-Bible seemed to magically solve problems and conquer in every difficulty.

It was sola scriptura meets Narnia or perhaps Lord of the Rings

The problem is that in scripture the Word of God is most a God’s creative word or his revelation to a prophet or Jesus himself or the proclaimed word of or about Jesus.

There are only 4 passages [Rom 9:6; John 10:35; Mark 7:13; Matt 15:6] where the primary reference of the expression may be the Hebrew Scriptures, and Eph 6:17 “the sword of the Spirit” is not one of them.

[There are 43 uses of this expression in RSVCE.]

The fact is that the Word of God is living, for it brings us into the presence of the living Jesus, since he is embodied in his word

Hebrews points to a living and yet human Word

The word proclaimed by God/Jesus, “the word of God, is living and effective” not because we learn from it (which one cannot do from a book without a hermeneutic) but because it “penetrates,” “discerns reflections and thoughts of the heart,” and makes us “naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.”

That is more than a text, read or heard, for like a beam of light it reflects our inner selves to the “him” from which it originates, him “to whom we must render an account.”

Yet that whom, that “great high priest” “Jesus, the Son of God” is human: he can and does “sympathize with our weaknesses,” he has been “tested in every way,” so the word he spoke and still speaks is one of grace, “let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.”

But that does not mean that he is always clear to us

This is especially true if we have put up walls against him

In Mark the Word speaks a word to Levi that “hits the mark;” “Follow me.”

And Levi does, for he hears a word of acceptance even though he was a customs agent, a taboo person to the custodians of the Scripture.

And he is not alone, so when he gives a dinner many such are there, “for there were many who followed [Jesus].”

The “Pharisaic scribes,” who share significant aspects of biblical interpretation with Jesus and saw themselves as custodians of the Torah (“sat in Moses’ seat”) see the eating with taboo persons and criticize Jesus to his disciples.

Jesus responds with a discerning word: “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.

I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

While it may seem to indicate that Jesus came to call sinners to repentance and the scribes did not need repentance because they were righteous, although such a ministry was one for the temple and the teachers of Torah, it is really asking people to discern their own hearts: if you realize you are a sinner then I bring healing to you; I did not come for those who think they are already OK.

And Jesus knows, in part from the reaction to his life, who is whom: they are naked before him.

Sisters, this has many implications

It is the reason for opening ourselves to the word, whether in lectio divina or before the blessed sacrament or in our consciousness as we go through life, to let the Word expose to our consciousness both how he sees us and what he wants to do for us with his grace.

We should not go beyond the pace of grace.

It is also the reason why evangelism is most effective if we “go to the margins” or to the wounded and broken in our culture rather than to the rich and powerful or successful (unless they are also broken and know it).

Those who know their need do not hide from being naked before him who knows them and offers them grace rather than more wounding.

And it explains why the word of God is indeed living, for it is not a book, although can and does flow through a book.

It is a person speaking, speaking in a way that can be heard by those “with ears that can hear,” for they are open to the person, not just the words.

Readings

FIRST READING

Hebrews 4:12–16

12 Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.

13 No creature is concealed from him, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin.

16 So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.

RESPONSE

John 6:63c

63 It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail.

The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

PSALM

Psalm 19:8–10, 15

8 The law of the LORD is perfect,

refreshing the soul.

The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,

giving wisdom to the simple.

9 The precepts of the LORD are right,

rejoicing the heart.

The command of the LORD is clear,

enlightening the eye.

10 The fear of the LORD is pure,

enduring forever.

The statutes of the LORD are true,

all of them just;

15 Let the words of my mouth be acceptable,

the thoughts of my heart before you,

LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

GOSPEL

Mark 2:13–17

13  Once again he went out along the sea.

All the crowd came to him and he taught them.

14 As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post.

He said to him, “Follow me.”

And he got up and followed him.

15 While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him.

16 Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 Jesus heard this and said to them [that], “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.

I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

Notes

SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 2023 | ORDINARY TIME

SATURDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

YEAR 1 | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading Hebrews 4:12–16

Response John 6:63c

Psalm Psalm 19:8–10, 15

Gospel Acclamation Luke 4:18

Gospel Mark 2:13–17