We are in Ordinary Time! The readings of this season are a lectio continuo, i.e. reading a book of the Bible chapter by chaper. We start this year reading from the Letter to the Hebrews and the Gospel of Mark. They provide an interesting contrast. The epistle is concerned with making sure that believers understand that the genuine humanity of Jesus lies at the core of belief. He is not ashamed to call them “brothers.” The Gospel of Mark, on the other hand, is anxious that his readers come to acknowledge Jesus as the presence of God in the world. “I know who you are–the Holy One of God!” Maybe this was a generational effect — the first generation of believers knew Jesus as a human being and had to come to know him as the son of God. Later generations like that of the author of Hebrews knew Jesus as proclaimed as Risen Lord and needed to recover his humanity. All of which is a reminder to us we must come to meet Jesus as “like us in all things but sin” but at the same time the Son of God. Faith requires holding both truths at the same time.
