God, Stepping Into Our Shoes

 Reflection on Today's Readings, Wednesday, 1st Week of Ordinary Time, Year 1, January 13th, 2021

Texts: Heb. 2:14-18; Ps. 105:1-4.6-9; Mark 1:29-39

Today's first reading tries to pierce the mystery of Incarnation. In incarnation of our God, we see His love  displayed. Our God took flesh to identify with us and share in our conditions. He identifies with us in our joy, pains, sorrow, suffering and death. He identifies with us so that by His victory in weakness we might have victory over our weakness in Him. He identifies with us in weakness so that we can be identified with Him in His victory. Hence, His victory over death becomes our victory over death. In the first reading, it is said, "Since the children share in flesh and blood, Jesus himself likewise partook of the same nature, that through death he might destroy him who has power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage." Those of us who are in Christ ought not to live in fear of death any longer, for death means good to us; it means the fulfilment of our ultimate desire, the desire to live with God forever. 

The reading goes further to tell us that through incarnation, Jesus Christ is able to help us. Sharing from our conditions and weakness, He steps into our shoes and is able to see things from our perspective; He is able to feel what we feel, and understand us. Having understood us, he is able to help us in our weakness, for He Himself has triumphed in weakness; He is tempted but did not sin, He suffered and faced death but did not abandon God.  Hence, in the reading, it is said, "he himself has suffered and been tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted." The secret of His victory is complete obedience to God in all things: In all His temptations, sufferings, and agony of death, He resolved to do His Father's will.

The reading also adds that God took  flesh that He might show mercy and faithful love. It is said, "Therefore he had to become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make expiation for the sins of the people." God took flesh to satisfy our reasoning capacity that He loves us and that He is able to save us.

God has shown us, through incarnation, to leave our closet and step into the other person's shoes; He has taught us to view things from the other person's perspective. If we do this, our human relationship will be better, we will stop judging one another, and live in peace and joy.

The gospel reading shows us how Jesus Christ manifests the truth of incarnation in action: He healed Peter's mother-in-law and many others who were sick, He delivered those who were possessed by demonic spirits and He went about preaching the good news. As a man He needed to pray to His Father for strength to be faithful and obedient to the Father's will. He, therefore, shows us that we need to always return to the Father for strength to be faithful and obedient to His Father's will.

God our Father, grant that we may embrace Your ways so that we will live in peace and love. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke