Year II

3rd Week in Ordinary Time, Wednesday

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In today’s First Reading David wants to build a Temple for the Lord, the first Jewish Temple, and the Lord in return promises to build a dynasty that will usher in Israel’s peace and security for all eternity. The initiative to build the Temple was David’s alone: as the Lord explains today, he didn’t ask for it or expect it from David. We know we should not displease God, but we should also strive to please him. He has blessed us with freedom so that we can spontaneously please him. We can’t surprise him with our initiative, since he is all-knowing, but we can please him with our initiative.

Jesus, the Messiah descended from David, would be the King whose reign would usher in peace and security for all eternity. The way we build our lives is the way we build our eternity. If we build our lives in a way pleasing to God he will not be outdone in generosity and will build an eternity of happiness for us and for those we love. The Lord did not just reward David for his thoughtful gesture; he blessed Israel forever. We too, when we build our lives in a way that pleases God, don’t just gather blessings for ourselves, but for many. That desire to simply please God and win blessings for others, expecting nothing for ourselves, is the greatest expression of selflessness.

Let’s strive to make our life something we build in appreciation for all God has done for us, and for the sake of others. That’s the best way to please God.

Readings: 2 Samuel 7:4–17; Psalm 89:4–5, 27–30; Mark 4:1–20. See also 16th Week in Ordinary Time, Thursday and Friday, and 24th Week in Ordinary Time, Saturday.

3rd Week in Ordinary Time, Tuesday

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In today’s First Reading David spares no expense or effort to welcome the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem with a liturgy that was not only generous, materially speaking, but from the heart. He danced before the Ark to show his love for the Lord. The Ark represented the Lord’s presence and favor among his people; it was at the center of Jewish worship. David to some seemed to be making a fool of himself, dancing before the Lord, but David had his priorities straight: everything he’d gained in life had come from the Lord, and he owed everything to the Lord as a result.

In the Eucharist we do not just have a representation of the Lord’s presence; we have the Lord himself. We don’t sacrifice animals to him, because he had made himself the perfect sacrifice to offer the Father, but do offer the sacrifices of living a holy life that is pleasing to him and that is also thanks to his sacrifice, which won us the grace to be holy. We don’t dance, but we do “celebrate” the Eucharist with a joy of blessings received and acknowledged and an eager anticipation for receiving Our Lord in Holy Communion to deepen in our love for him.

Make the liturgy today a moment of celebration and eager anticipation.

Readings: 2 Samuel 6:12b–15, 17–19; Psalm 24:7–10; Mark 3:31–35. See also 16th Week in Ordinary Time, Tuesday and 25th Week in Ordinary Time, Tuesday.

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.