Playing Catch Up
January 29, 2025
Fr. John Riccardo
Since the children share in blood and flesh, Jesus likewise shared in them, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the Devil, and free those who through fear of death had been subject to slavery all their life.
Surely he did not help angels but rather the descendants of Abraham; therefore, he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every way, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God to expiate the sins of the people. Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested
(Hebrews 2:14-18).
There’s lots of talk in our news these days about how divided we are as a country. Such division, tragically, is nothing new. Division, fear, suspicion, distrust, and outright hatred of “the other” have been our lot since that fateful day in Eden. In the midst of this, however, the human spirit senses something isn’t right and that we aren’t supposed to be like this; it seems to remember a time when things were different and longs for peace.
“My psychology is still trying to catch up with my ontology.” A friend of mine said those words to me shortly after he was ordained a bishop. In other words, something had happened to him on the level of his being (ontology) but his mindset and attitude were still adjusting to what had happened and were lagging somewhere behind. Those words come to mind as I pray with this passage from Hebrews. Jesus has done something extraordinarily momentous, something earth shattering in fact. And yet, for most of us anyway, our way of thinking and acting is still trying to catch up with what’s been done.
What has Jesus done? The eternal Son of God, the mighty, majestic and all-powerful Lord of the universe, out of His extraordinary love for us, has tasted death for everyone (cf. Hebrews 2:9). In so doing He has defeated the power of Death and the one enemy of our race, the devil. They hold no power over us anymore. Oh to be sure, we will all still die, but because of what Jesus has done for us, the power of Death cannot hold us anymore; it has become a doorway into the eternal life for which God created us.
That said, though this has happened, if we’re honest, I’ll bet most of us are still trying to grasp what this means and live accordingly. When the author says that Jesus has freed us from the fear of death and the slavery that comes with it, the Greek word he uses is frequently used with reference to being healed. In other words, the action that has been done for us - the defeat of Death – should bring a profound transformation in how we think, live and act now. Has it?
Paul is for me the best example of a man whose psychology caught up with his ontology when he wrote, “For me, life is Christ and death is gain” (Phil 1:21). Gain! In other words, so long as we live, we will do so for the glory of God and the good of our neighbor. But death need not frighten us. It has no power over us. What’s up ahead is infinitely greater than all that is behind. The Kingdom of God – and all that is waiting for us – is more not less than this life! Therefore, we can enjoy all that the good Lord brings our way here and now and yet not cling to it.
Let us ask the Holy Spirit to help us understand ever more profoundly the meaning of Jesus’ death for us, and to live in the freedom that comes from it.
ACTS XXIX Prayer Intentions
January 2025
For our Episcopal Advisory Committee, Board members, benefactors, prayer partners and all those running The Rescue Project in their parishes, homes and college campuses.
For God’s protection upon Fr. John Riccardo, the ACTS XXIX family and all our families.
