Ordinary Time

1st Week in Ordinary Time, Saturday, Year I

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In today’s First Reading the Letter to the Hebrews describes the word of God as being like a two-edged sword, a sword that has the edges and finesse to get to the vital spots of its opponent. Yet this “sword” goes even deeper: it can pierce even the spirit and the soul, leaving its adversary (an obstinate soul) defenseless and exposed. Depending on your state of soul the word of God may feel like jabbing an already raw wound or exposed nerve, but, as Our Lord describes in today’s Gospel, he is trying to perform surgery, which requires pain, a pain with the goal of healing a greater wound.

In today’s Gospel the word of the Our Lord strikes to the heart of Levi (St. Matthew) as he sits at his post, collecting customs, and simply says, “follow me.” Levi does it without question; following Our Lord is the answer to what he has been seeking in life, and what he thinks his friends and acquaintances have been seeking as well, which is why he invites them to dine with the man who has given newfound meaning to his life. The scribes who criticize Our Lord for associating with tax collectors and sinners are also disarmed by the words of Our Lord in a master stroke: do not the sick, even the spiritually sick, need a physician? In a few words he changes our attitude regarding sinners: from condemned to wounded in need of our compassion and care.

The word of God has something to say every time we listen to it. Let’s allow the physician to perform his surgery on our souls today. If he has to cut deep we know it is with greater healing in mind.

Readings: Hebrews 4:12–16; Psalm 19:8–10, 15; Mark 2:13–17. See also Saturday after Ash Wednesday and St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist.

1st Week in Ordinary Time, Friday, Year I

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In today’s First Reading the Letter to the Hebrews teaches us something not evident in moments of difficulty and trial: faith leads to rest and relief. Continuing yesterday‘s discussion of why the Israelites were condemned to wander in the desert for forty years after squandering an opportunity to enter the Promised Land, the Letter explains that it was their lack of faith that doomed the first generation of unbelieving Israelites. Many people draw solace from their faith, but others see faith as only making their life harder and riskier.

The paralytic in today’s Gospel had friends who thought outside the box due to their faith. They saw an opportunity for their friend’s healing in Our Lord, and they didn’t let conventional means get in their way. The paralytic had to have faith in his friends to be lowered from the roof, and Our Lord acknowledged his faith. Through his faith he received relief from his condition. We may not always see miracles, but our faith can make our life take unexpected directions and grant us the solace and relief we need when facing life’s challenges.

Ask Our Lord today to help you believe “out of the box” and see where life takes you.

Readings: Hebrews 4:1–5, 11; Psalm 78:3, 4bc, 6c–8; Mark 2:1–12. See also 2nd Week of Advent, Monday and 13th Week in Ordinary Time, Thursday.

1st Week in Ordinary Time, Thursday, Year I

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In today’s First Reading the Letter to the Hebrews encourages us to not let our heart become hardened to God and others when our faith and trust are subjected to trials. Whether our relationship with God is good or bad, he always tries to speak to us, in our hearts, whether we listen or not. A hardened heart leads to unhappiness. The psalm quoted today refers to the sad episode at Meribah and Massah when the Israelites complained in the desert out of thirst and questioned Moses (Exodus 17:1-7), as well as when the Israelites balked at entering the Promised Land because they didn’t trust the Lord to help them settle it (Numbers 13:30–14:38). As a result they wandered the desert for forty years, and those who were adults, with a few exceptions, didn’t live to enter the Promised Land.

We can suffer thirst and anxiety and become frustrated and close our hearts to God and to others when we should really foster an acceptance that the Lord gives us moments of feast and of famine and invites us to believe in him and to trust in him. The Israelites would have enjoyed forty more years of the Promised Land if they’d trusted the Lord. Experiences only harden us if we let them. If Our Lord is ready to forgive, so should we, trusting in him that everything will work out.

It’s never too late in this life for a hardened heart to turn back to the Lord. A hardened heart is as spiritually repugnant as a leper is physically due to his malady, but Our Lord will reach out to touch both without hesitation, if they let him. Hear his voice today and harden not your heart.

Readings: Hebrews 3:7–14; Psalm 95:6–7c, 8–11; Mark 1:40–45. See also Friday after Epiphany and 12th Week in Ordinary Time, Friday.

 

1st Week in Ordinary Time, Wednesday, Year I

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In today’s First Reading the Letter to the Hebrews explains that in order to redeem humanity Our Lord had to have some solidarity with it. Through his Incarnation he took humanity upon himself: he became man without leaving aside his divinity. A high priest is the mediator between God and man, and Our Lord, through his Incarnation, became this mediator and mediation: in his Person he enabled humanity to be restored after the Fall. He is able to empathize with us in our struggles and sufferings because he too chose trials and sufferings for our salvation.

Death was not something desired by God. The Book of Wisdom teaches that death came into the world due to the envy of the Devil (see Wisdom 1:13 and 2:24). The first horrific experience of death occurred soon after sin, through the Devil’s temptation and the sin of our first parents, when Cain slew his brother Abel. Sin and death have always gone hand in hand, and the Devil influences us and the world through them. Through sin the Devil has a power to inflict spiritual death: the loss of God not only here, but in eternity.

Our Lord came to free us from sin and death, and he did so through the Cross. Instead of a tempter we have a mediator. Let’s turn to Our Lord and away from temptation so that he can liberate us from sin and death.

Readings: Hebrews 2:14–18; Psalm 105:1–9; Mark 1:29–39. See also 22nd Week in Ordinary Time, Wednesday.

1st Week in Ordinary Time, Tuesday, Year I

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In today’s First Reading the letter to the Hebrews teaches us the heights and the depths to which Our Lord is willing to go through referring to two psalms. Psalm 8 is a psalm exulting in the wonders of creations and especially that the Lord has made man the noblest of his visible creations, only second to angels. The brief reference to Psalm 22 is the moment where the psalmist promises to glorify the Lord among his brethren after he has been delivered from his suffering, the psalm Our Lord said on the Cross.

We see Psalm 8 fulfilled in Christ: “You made him for a little while lower than the angels” refers to Our Lord’s Incarnation, and soon after speaks of his glorification, a glorification that we know comes through his suffering on the Cross and is not complete until the end of time. The reference to Psalm 22, when Our Lord glorifies his Father along will all of his brethren, refers to his heavenly glory, a glory in which we’ll share if we believe in him and entrust our lives to him.

Today’s Gospel shows that Our Lord is greater than the fallen angels as well. He casts out the unclean spirit and lends more credence to the power and authority his Father has given him. He also wants to rejoice with you from here to eternity. Help him to help you.

Readings: Hebrews 2:5–12; Psalm 8:2ab, 5–9; Mark 1:21–28. See also 22nd Week in Ordinary Time, Tuesday.