First Reading: Tb 11:5-17; Psalm: 146. R. 1b; Gospel: Mk 12:35-37

GREATER THAN WHAT WE CALL HIM

BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP

It was the belief of the Jews that the Messiah would come from the line of David and rightfully called the “Son of David.” And just like David who fought for his people’s freedom, it was also believed by the Jewish people that the Messiah coming from the line of David would do the same for them by fighting for their freedom against the oppression of their foreign leaders. Jesus inquired from the scribes why he was called the ‘Son of David’ when David himself referred to the Messiah as his Lord (Ps 110:1). The point was that although Jesus was of Davidic descent, but more importantly he was God’s son. The scribe needed to understand this.

Jesus was the son of David by descent but was greater than David by his divine origin. When Jesus came down to us in his humility, he was equal with us in his humanity but greater than us by his divinity. This divinity of Jesus should not be undermined. So although the Messiah was regarded as the ‘Son of David,’ but the Jews must not forget that David referred to him as his Lord. And this Lordship of Christ illustrates his divinity and his sovereignty over David. So Jesus wanted the scribes to understand that they would be making a mistake to equate him or judge him based on the standard of King David.

We must all understand that our knowledge of Jesus is inadequate. We call Jesus our King, Saviour, Lord, Friend, Father, and so many other worthy names; and he is rightfully so. But we must understand that these names do not match who Jesus really is as God. The humility of Jesus has placed him so much at par with us that we became so free to relate with him as friend. But we must be wary of falling into the temptation of relating with Jesus purely from the humanistic sense. Such that when we pray for instance, we begin to anticipate the response of God judging from probable human imperfect responses. God’s divine will is always perfect. God is greater than man.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Lord Jesus, deepen our faith to understand that you are greater than what we say you are.  Amen.