The Book of Psalms is the most quoted book of Hebrew Scriptures in the New Testament writings. They are a shared scriptural treasury for both Jews and Christians for millennia and span the gambit of human triumphs and travails, passions and hopes, confusion and anger. It is likely Jesus as a Jewish male knew the psalms, so it is not a surprise that Jesus quotes Psalm 110 in our Gospel reading today. Even if these were not exactly Jesus’ words, the evangelist Mark wants us to make a connection that is echoed also in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, Acts of the Apostles, and the Letter to the Hebrews with reference to this psalm. We get to see the theological resources early Christians drew upon as they tried to understand who Jesus exactly was and what was accomplished in him.
Psalm 110 in its original context speaks to the hope in the continuance of the monarchy from the line of King David. For a small nation like Israel, they were politically insignificant, and many larger nations colonized Israel over its history (Babylonians, Greeks, and Romans). The restoration in the monarchy would be a belief contrary to the evidence of domination; it would be a boast in what the Lord would do as the Israelites returned to the land from exile. We see a similar hope in the resurrection of Christ in the context of the crucifixion. Amidst the brutal torture Jesus underwent on the cross, his disciples proclaimed that Jesus is risen and lives anew. Jews and Christians both draw our hope and faith from the fidelity of God to accompany us despite the evidence. God is not done working with us even amidst the worst things that can happen to us.
Where have you felt God presence amidst the context of the pandemic?