Feast on God’s Love

Greetings on this the Monday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Heb 5:1-10; Ps 110:1, 2, 3, 4; Mk 2:18-22
Notes: Continuing the theme of John the Baptist: I myself did not know him.

Over the next weeks we will follow the life of Jesus. Christmas season is over, and Lent is another six weeks away. Let us take these weeks to reacquaint ourselves with the person of Jesus. His ministry has begun with his baptism and temptation in the desert certainly. We also can view him in the plain reading of the accounts of his life. Jesus taught and healed in Galilee. He reoriented us to faith and action.

I’d like you to meet my friend Jesus this week. He faced so many very human difficulties. In Galilee he moved about this agricultural and livestock-based community and economy. Fishermen, Shepherds, farms and freshwater springs. Money and education were not common as in the big city, Jerusalem. Those who were educated were revered and unquestioned. That had to change.

Jesus’ Challenges:

• Ritual observance contested.
• Sabbath understanding challenged.
• Cried.
• Anger.
• Grief.
• Withdral (prayer).
• Withdral (protection).
• Physical danger.
• Suffering.
• Even his family thought him crazy.

He reveals God in his action and teaching:

• He is the bridegroom.
• He is the Lord of Sabbath.
• You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.

Monday – Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins. Jesus is the new wine. It is the same grape of love but a new pressing of the grapes to bring forward even deeper and refreshing essence and aroma of God.

Tuesday – “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.” Eating grain (by the handful) is not prohibitted at all as a matter of fact. But Jesus takes it further, Sabbath is made to help man not burden him.

Wednesday – Sabbath good. Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored.

Thursday – Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples. So overwhelming was the positive response to Jesus, his message and his healing power, that a boat was needed to prevent a crushing onrush.

Friday – Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him. Jesus’ calling is a powerful attraction. The attraction of supperabunbant love even held, for a while, Judas Iscariot who later betrayed him.

Saturday – When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” Clearly, Jesus’ radical engagement with others unsettled everyone, including his family. In a sense he failed to do a task we always remember to do – reserve something for himself.

First reading
Brothers and sisters: Every high priest is taken from among men and made their representative before God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.

In the days when he was in the Flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.

Responsorial Psalm
You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.

Alleluia Verse
The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.

Gospel Portion
“Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day.

Feast on God’s love today.

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry