Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Dominion. Many images come to our mind when we speak this word aloud or our eyes pass over it in reading. While not a commonly used word in contemporary speech, we are quite familiar with its expression. We imagine this word in connection to power, strength, control, sovereignty and thus the ability to wield these as one sees fit. For those in our world who hold “dominion”, whether political, social or religious, there is little room in their position for those “beneath” them to share in their power. Dominion, we tend to believe, is synonymous with domination.
But here lies our problem: We have muddled our definitions.
In today’s reading from the Letter to the Hebrews, the writer speaks of God’s work in subjecting all things under the feet of man through the work of Jesus Christ. Here again we find language akin to our discussion above. “Subjecting all things under his feet”-these are very strong words, right? Hearing this, we hearken back to the words of God at the creation of man (Gen. 1:26) in which man was given (listen close, here it is!) dominion over all creation. Using our above, wide-spread and commonly agreed upon definition of dominion, it looks like we are doing fairly well in our task. Looking around the world, creation has certainly been subjected and put under our feet. Such plunder is hard to miss. There is no place left on earth that has not been touched and affected by the presence of man. We have categorized, theorized and studied the workings of the natural world and bent them for our purposes. “We are progressing, and these scriptures ordain it so!” we may confidently cry.
Unless we keep reading.
The Church, in her wisdom, does not stop our reading of Hebrews short. Instead we must read on. In this passage from Hebrews, there is no question that we are given the model of true dominion, that is, Jesus Christ, “crowned with glory and honor”. But the writer of Hebrews is telling his readers something a bit paradoxical: this picture of dominion is the Suffering Christ. This image is deeply problematic for the definition of dominion above, which is characterized by strength, power and control. The Jesus that willingly suffered, experiencing weakness and death is the same Jesus who, in today’s Gospel reading, had the power to expel demons. In today’s Gospel the power and authority of Jesus is easily recognizable, “All were amazed and asked one another, ‘what is this? A new teaching with authority.’” But very different from our society, we find that Jesus’ (and therefore God’s) authority and dominion is characterized by care, humility and love.
In my own faith, one thing I have always noticed is the contrast between my self and God’s self revealed through Christ. While I busy myself with success, Jesus is ever reminding me to be contented and even blessed with poverty. In my loudness and affection for distraction, Jesus invites me to silence and reflection. In my frustration at being wronged, Jesus shows me his own wounds and the glory of loving our enemies. For me, today’s scriptures are another subtle reminder. In our desire for power and control, we are reminded of the suffering Christ, God shedding himself for those he loves most dearly. May we learn to imitate such self-giving love.
-Tyler DeLong