Lectionary: 320
Reading 1
Heb 10:19-25
Brothers and sisters:
Since through the Blood of Jesus
we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary
by the new and living way he opened for us through the veil,
that is, his flesh,
and since we have “a great priest over the house of God,”
let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute trust,
with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience
and our bodies washed in pure water.
Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope,
for he who made the promise is trustworthy.
We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works.
We should not stay away from our assembly,
as is the custom of some, but encourage one another,
and this all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6
R. (see 6) Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Alleluia
Ps 119:105
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A lamp to my feet is your word,
a light to my path.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Mk 4:21-25
Jesus said to his disciples,
“Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket
or under a bed,
and not to be placed on a lampstand?
For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible;
nothing is secret except to come to light.
Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.”
He also told them, “Take care what you hear.
The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you,
and still more will be given to you.
To the one who has, more will be given;
from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”
REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: PRESENCE OR ABSENT?
"We should not absent ourselves from the assembly, as some do, but encourage one another; and this all the more because you see that the Day draws near." –Hebrews 10:25
When we gather in Jesus' name, He has promised to be with us in a special way (Mt 18:20). In Jesus' special presence, we are more deeply united with Him and with one another. In this deeper unity, we have greater knowledge of and openness to God's will. Therefore, when we pray together, we express better the will of God, and our prayers are answered (Mt 18:19). In this great prayer-power, we are encouraged and roused to love and good deeds (Heb 10:24-25). In His presence, unity, will, intercession, and power, we are gathered as Jesus' disciples were gathered in the upper room before the first Christian Pentecost (see Acts 1:14).
When the members of Christ's Body repeatedly resist the temptation to absent themselves from the assembly, we will see a new Pentecost, hasten the final coming of Christ (2 Pt 3:12), and be ready for the end of the world and His coming (see Heb 10:25). When spouses get together for prayer, when families gather to hear God's Word, when Christian communities cover the earth, when churches are packed for daily Mass, when prayer groups are abounding, then we will see God's glory. Therefore, make any sacrifices necessary so as not to absent yourself from the assembly.
PRAYER: Father, may I never imply by the choices I make that I don't need the other parts of Christ's Body (see 1 Cor 12:21).
PROMISE: "In the measure you give you shall receive, and more besides." –Mk 4:24
PRAISE: Tony had no money to pay his bills when he was laid off. He refused to panic, and believed God would provide. On the day his bills were due, three separate individuals visited him to pay off old debts, which totalled the amount of what he owed.
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