Lectionary: 310
Reading 1
Heb 4:12-16
The word of God is living and effective,
sharper than any two-edged sword,
penetrating even between soul and spirit,
joints and marrow,
and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
No creature is concealed from him,
but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him
to whom we must render an account.
Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens,
Jesus, the Son of God,
let us hold fast to our confession.
For we do not have a high priest
who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,
but one who has similarly been tested in every way,
yet without sin.
So let us confidently approach the throne of grace
to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 15
R. (see John 6:63c) Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart
find favor before you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
Alleluia
Lk 4:18
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor
and to proclaim liberty to captives.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Mk 2:13-17
Jesus went out along the sea.
All the crowd came to him and he taught them.
As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus,
sitting at the customs post.
Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”
And he got up and followed Jesus.
While he was at table in his house,
many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples;
for there were many who followed him.
Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners
and tax collectors and said to his disciples,
“Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
Jesus heard this and said to them,
“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: HE COULDN'T CARE MORE
"So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and favor and to find help in time of need." –Hebrews 4:16
We see others and ourselves beset with problems, which don't get better but get worse. Then we wonder whether God cares.
We pray, and our prayers are not answered as we hoped. In fact, things often get worse after we pray. If God is blessing us, it seems impossible to recognize this.
We see people falling on the ice, suffering in pain, shivering in the cold, treated unjustly, and consumed with fear. Then we wonder again whether God cares.
The truth is: GOD CARES. He even became a human being to suffer with us. The crucified Christ communicates to even the most broken and confused people that God cares about each one of them (1 Pt 5:7). "We do not have a High Priest Who is unable to sympathize with our weakness" (Heb 4:15). God cares about each one of us more than we care about ourselves. He cares about us far more than even those who love us most claim to care about us. God cannot care about us more than He already does. He cares about us and loves us perfectly, infinitely, unconditionally, sacrificially, and eternally. "So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and favor and to find help in time of need" (Heb 4:16).
PRAYER: Abba, by faith I have supreme confidence in Your love.
PROMISE: "Jesus said to them, 'People who are healthy do not need a doctor; sick people do. I have come to call sinners, not the righteous.' " –Mk 2:17, our transl.
PRAISE: St. Anthony let go of the old wineskin (see Mk 2:22) by selling all his possessions and received new wine by choosing to live as a religious.
No comments:
Post a Comment