Saturday, January 24 2015; Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Lectionary: 316

Reading 1
Heb 9:2-3, 11-14

A tabernacle was constructed, the outer one,
in which were the lampstand, the table, and the bread of offering; 
this is called the Holy Place.
Behind the second veil was the tabernacle called the Holy of Holies. 

But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come to be, 
passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands, 
that is, not belonging to this creation, 
he entered once for all into the sanctuary, 
not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own Blood, 
thus obtaining eternal redemption.
For if the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkling of a heifer’s ashes 
can sanctify those who are defiled 
so that their flesh is cleansed, 
how much more will the Blood of Christ, 
who through the eternal spirit offered himself unblemished to God,
cleanse our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9

R. (6) God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
All you peoples, clap your hands,
shout to God with cries of gladness,
For the LORD, the Most High, the awesome,
is the great king over all the earth.
R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy;
the LORD, amid trumpet blasts.
Sing praise to God, sing praise;
sing praise to our king, sing praise.
R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
For king of all the earth is God:
sing hymns of praise.
God reigns over the nations,
God sits upon his holy throne.
R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.

Alleluia
See Acts 16:14b

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Open our hearts, O Lord,
to listen to the words of your Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Mk 3:20-21

Jesus came with his disciples into the house.
Again the crowd gathered,
making it impossible for them even to eat.
When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, 
for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: INSANE TO THE INSANE

"When His family heard of this they came to take charge of Him, saying, 'He is out of His mind.' " –Mark 3:21

Jesus' relatives said He was out of His mind. Each of us will also be called "out of our minds." Will this be because we are followers of Jesus or because our minds are conformed to the insanity of the world? (see Rm 12:2) We want to be able to say with St. Paul: "If we are ever caught up out of ourselves, God is the reason; and when we are brought back to our senses, it is for your sakes" (2 Cor 5:13). We are happy to be out of our minds or even our bodies (see 2 Cor 12:2-3) as long as God is the reason. It's an honor to be considered insane by the standards of an insane world.

The world should see us not only as insane, but as absurd (1 Cor 1:18). We should be viewed as fools for Christ (1 Cor 4:10). This explains why every Christian should expect to be persecuted (2 Tm 3:12). Our reaction to being called "out of our minds" and even to being persecuted is love and joy. By God's grace, we imitate Jesus and love our enemies (see Mt 5:44). We also rejoice in the measure that we share Christ's sufferings (1 Pt 4:13).

In summary, we are considered insane, absurd, and foolish. We are rejected, hated, and persecuted. Overshadowing it all, however, we have miraculous, divine, unconditional love and joy.

PRAYER: Father, may I be worthy of ill-treatment for the sake of Jesus' name (Acts 5:41).

PROMISE: "All you peoples, clap your hands, shout to God with cries of gladness." –Ps 47:2

PRAISE: St. Francis gave spiritual direction to St. Jane Frances de Chantal, who founded eighty-six convents in only thirty years.