10th Sunday of the Year B – June 9, 2024.
Readings: Genesis 3:9-15; Responsorial Psalm Ps130:1-2.3-4.5-7a(R.7bc); 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 & Gospel – Mark 3:20-35.
The first reading which presents the fall of man points to three epochal realities in the economy of salvation – the original state of blessedness that Adam and Eve initially enjoyed, the state of fallen humanity occasioned by eating the forbidden fruit, and restored humanity which Jesus would establish on calvary. In the second reading, St. Paul reveals that grace and thanksgiving multiply among God’s people because of the death and resurrection of Jesus. The gospel which discloses that the Scribes accused Jesus of using the power of Beelzebul, records how he swiftly warned them for accusing him of using diabolical powers to heal. Today’s liturgy warns us against the blame-game and committing sin against the Holy Spirit.
Introduction
Friends in Christ, our reflection this Sunday highlights the implication of the blame game and draws our attention to sins against the Holy Spirit. Our liturgy points to God’s mercy exemplified by Jesus, in the economy of salvation, who has made us his brothers and sisters by the virtue of baptism.
Background Summary of the Readings
The first reading (Genesis 3:9-15) which presents the fall of man points to three epochal realities in the economy of salvation – the original state of blessedness that Adam and Eve initially enjoyed, the state of fallen humanity occasioned by eating the forbidden fruit, and restored humanity which Jesus would establish on calvary. It highlights denial, the blame-game exhibited by our first parents and the punishment God gave them for their misdeeds.
In the second reading (2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1), St. Paul reveals that grace and thanksgiving multiply among God’s people because of the death and resurrection of Jesus. He maintains that he who raised Jesus would raise us to life as well. Paul insists that there is an eternal and imperishable tent prepared for those who resist the devil and seek after the spiritual.
The gospel (Mark 3:20-35) which discloses that the Scribes accused Jesus of using the power of Beelzebul records how he swiftly warned them for accusing him of using diabolical powers to heal. By saying, “A kingdom divided against itself cannot last” and, “Anyone who sins the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven – he is guilty of an eternal sin,” Jesus warns us against the blame-game and grieving the Holy Spirit.
Pastoral Lessons
- Resist Inordinate Passions: Christians are charged to deploy their God-given capacity to resist inordinate passions which makes us to commit sins like lust of the flesh and obsession to material possessions which St. Thomas Aquinas describes in his Summa Theologica as the concupiscence of the eyes, the concupiscence of the flesh and the pride of life.
- Embrace Service: The fact that Adam and Eve wanted to be like God calls all those who seek leadership positions in the civil society and the Church to embrace self-less service by averting the temptation of playing which often leads to impunity and lack of accountability.
- Avoid Blame-Game: In a society where blame game is the order of the day, it is important for us to change the narrative by denying our faults to evade punishment or guilt by Adam and Eve by taking responsibility as private and public persons who accept their errors and embrace repentance.
- Do Not Grief the Holy Spirit: The Church urges us to resist the 6 sins against the Holy Spirit as contained in the Catechism of Saint Pius X – Despairing of being saved, presuming on being saved without merit, opposing the known truth, envying another’s graces, obstinately remaining in sin and final impenitence.
- Avoid Sacrilege: We are charged to avoid anything that is close to sacrilege or using what is sacred for diabolical means as these amount to grieving the Holy Spirit.
Summary Lines
- The first reading which presents the fall of man points to three epochal realities in the economy of salvation – the original state of blessedness that Adam and Eve initially enjoyed, the state of fallen humanity occasioned by eating the forbidden fruit, and restored humanity which Jesus would establish on calvary.
- In the second reading, St. Paul reveals that grace and thanksgiving multiply among God’s people because of the death and resurrection of Jesus.
- He maintains that he who raised Jesus would raise us to life as well.
- The gospel which discloses that the Scribes accused Jesus of using the power of Beelzebul records how he swiftly warned them for accusing him of using diabolical powers to heal.
- Jesus warns us against the blame-game and grieving the Holy Spirit.
Conclusion
On this Sunday, every Christian is charged to eschew the “scapegoat mentality” which seeks to blame others for one’s faults. One take-home message that is essential that despite the sin of Adam and Eve and the corresponding punishment that went with it, God was merciful to them. Christians must emulate this. Little wonder, the saying goes: “To err is human and to forgive, divine.” May the purpose for which Jesus came (Cf. John 3:16) help us to make the world a better place to live in through establishing a kingdom of love, peace and joy. Happy Sunday!
