Second Week

2nd Week in Ordinary Time, Saturday

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Today’s Gospel invites us to imagine what was going through the mind of Our Lord’s family when news began to reach them of everything happening in his ministry: healings, people mobbing him from all over Palestine, non-stop work that didn’t even leave him time to eat, and an escape by boat as the only way to keep the crowds from flocking around him and following him constantly. Today’s Gospel says simply that he came into “the house”; it’s not clear whether he’d come home or not, but the mention of the family’s reaction might infer it, although the Gospel only says they heard of what he was doing.

The reaction of Our Lord’s family serves to underscore the apparent insanity of the situation, so much that they’re wondering whether Jesus himself is insane. Our Lord, however, simply travels, preaches, heals, and casts out unclean spirits. The reaction on the part of the people may seem disproportionate, but it also shows how lost and in need of truth and healing humanity was since the Fall: even the assembly and covenant with Israel in the Old Testament was just a preparation for the work of salvation that would begin in earnest with the Incarnation and ministry of Our Lord.

We continue Our Lord’s mission. The needs of humanity for truth, healing, and protection from evil haven’t diminished a bit. The difference now is that often they don’t know who to turn to. How do we respond to this? Not by avoiding a “mob” situation, but, rather, by not shying away from making Our Lord known. It may mean more work, but it’s the most important work we can do.

Readings: 2 Samuel 1:1–4, 11–12, 19, 23–27; Psalm 80:2–3, 5–7; Mark 3:20–21.

2nd Week in Ordinary Time, Friday

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Today’s Gospel reminds us that Our Lord calls by way of invitation. He summons the Twelve, but they must respond to the summons. Today’s Gospel focuses on the call and the response of the Twelve, but the Lord extends an invitation to everyone to follow him, not because he has to, but because he wants to. Today’s Gospel says he calls those whom “he wanted.” Not every calling involves the same authority and appointment as the Twelve, but it does involve being sent into the world on Our Lord’s behalf to spread the Good News. That’s not just the mission of bishops, priests, deacons, and consecrated persons; everyone is sent on mission in accordance with their state of life, be it clergy, laity, or consecrated.

Today’s Gospel also shows that Our Lord’s invitation is based on a first hand knowledge of the one being sent. Today it seems some of the apostles receive “nicknames,” but biblically the reception of a new name also involves a transformation and a mission. Peter at that moment was a “rock” in the rough who’d one day be the rock on which Our Lord would build his Church. James and John both had a thundering personality in the Lord’s service that made them worthy of the name. These “nicknames” are probably also mentioned by Mark because the generations of Christians that followed may not have known them by any other.

What’s Our Lord inviting you to do? What name do you’d think he’d give you that summarizes the kind of apostle you’re called to be? You may not see it, but for him you are a diamond in the rough. Respond to his call, whatever it may be, and soon you’ll shine in his service, even in the circumstances of everyday life.

Readings: 1 Samuel 24:3–21; Psalm 57:2–4, 6, 11; Mark 3:13–19. See also 14th Week in Ordinary Time, Wednesday and Sts. Simon and Jude, Apostles.

2nd Week in Ordinary Time, Thursday

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Today’s Gospel shows the rapid spread of news about Our Lord and his power and teaching. We’re far from an age of viral videos or social media: people are hearing about Our Lord by word of mouth from the lips of someone they know who has seen and experienced Our Lord. A few chapters into Mark we see the rapid rise of interest raised by this Rabbi from Nazareth, probably because of testimony to what he has taught and done. People are coming to see miracles and to beg for miracles for themselves or for those they love. They come to him wherever he goes, and now he must go out on the water to keep people from mobbing him, people hoping that just to touch him would bring the healing they need.

Even the unclean spirits, fallen angels, are thunderstruck by the thought of the Son of God becoming flesh and walking among his creation again. They probably never imagined they’d see their Creator in person until the Last Judgment, but here he was, walking the earth. If they’re shouting out what he is it’s probably as much out of fear as of a desire to spread that fear among the crowd by making them realize who Jesus really is. But Our Lord only wants to spread good news, and for now the healing and teaching are enough.

Our Lord does not silence those who spread word of him to those in need. Let’s bear that news to everyone we know.

Readings: 1 Samuel 18:6–9, 19:1–7; Psalm 56:2–3, 9–13; Mark 3:7–12. See also Monday after Epiphany.

2nd Week in Ordinary Time, Wednesday

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In today’s Gospel Our Lord is not just sizing up a political situation and reading body language and expressions: he is reading hearts, and he is saddened by their hardness. Today he encounters not just people who unknowingly and perhaps unwillingly work against him and his mission, but those who do so willingly and knowingly: the Pharisees. They don’t approve of what he is doing and they want to use it as something with which to accuse him and condemn him.

Mark simply tells us that Our Lord is angry and sad at their attitude. We can only guess at all the reasons running through his mind: the expectations he had of those who had been entrusted with watching over Israel, and seeing them simply acting as political agents trying to shore up their position against an apparent pretender to their throne. When Our Lord invites them to reveal why they’re really in the synagogue they opt for a strategic silence. They don’t hide their intentions well enough, or else Mark would have never known that from that moment they sought to kill Jesus.

As we saw yesterday in the case of the Lord choosing David as a new king, Our Lord doesn’t judge just by appearances; he judges hearts. When he looks at my heart today, how does he feel? Politics don’t work with him. Have a heart to heart conversation with him today and see how you can make him happy. His happiness is yours, guaranteed.

Readings: 1 Samuel 17:32–33, 37, 40–51; Psalm 144:1b, 2, 9–10; Mark 3:1–6. See also 23rd Week in Ordinary Time, Monday.

2nd Week in Ordinary Time, Tuesday

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In today’s First Reading the prophet Samuel has certain expectations for what the new king of Israel will be like. He’s expecting another Saul, someone tall and strong, with a great presence and bold spirit. One by one he sees the qualities of each of Jesse’s sons (except one), but the Lord doesn’t choose any of them, because he sees the heart, not just appearances. The Lord knows who he is going to pick, but by going through every son of Jesse but the last he is reminding Samuel, and us, not to judge by appearances nor expect our appearances to mean anything to him. In the end the Lord chooses little David, seen as so insignificant that he was sent to do chores while his father and brothers focused on more important things, and who became a great king.

When we’re interested in a job we focus a lot on externals–our personal presentation, the polish of our resume, how to show we’d be a good fit–but if we’re truly interested in our lives, which go beyond a job, we have to focus on our hearts, because that’s what the Lord sees, and that’s what the Lord cares about above all, not just for his glory, but for our good. We can fudge a little to try and get a better job or recognition, but the Lord sees us in our hearts exactly as we are. That can be a source of anxiety or a source of strength, depending on how we see our own heart.

Ask Our Lord today what he thinks of your heart: it’s a chance for great consolation and great conversion.

Readings: 1 Samuel 16:1–13; Psalm 89:20–22, 27–28; Mark 2:23–28. See also 15th Week in Ordinary Time, Friday and 22nd Week in Ordinary Time, Saturday.