January 19, 2005 - Wednesday, 2nd Week in Ordinary Time

Doing Good on the Lord's Day

Readings:
Heb 7:1-3, 15-17; Ps 100:1, 2, 3, 4
Mk 3:1-6

Opening Prayer

Gracious and holy God,
you have chosen us to be
your kingdom of peace and mature love.
But we have to acknowledge with shame
that there is still much room for growth.
Make our love richer, more sensitive;
Complete the work you have begun in us,
that we may have a permanent place in your heart
and reflect the adult, healing goodness
of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading Introduction

Hebrews gives us an example of rabbinical reasoning that compares the absence about data of the origin of Melchizedek with the divine origin of Jesus. The priest Melchizedek comes as if from nowhere, without any levitical, human genealogy mentioned. Likewise, Jesus has no levitical, human genealogy; he is eternal.

First Reading: Heb 7:1-3, 15-17

Scripture says that Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, came out to meet Abraham who returned from defeating the kings. He blessed Abraham and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything.

Let us note that the name Melchizedek means King of Justice, and that king of Salem means king of Peace. There is no mention of father, mother or genealogy; nothing is said about the beginning or the end of his life. In this he is the figure of the Son of God, the priest who remains forever.

All this, however, becomes clear if this priest after the likeness of Melchizedek has in fact received his mission, not on the basis of any human law, but by the power of an immortal life. Because Scripture says: You are a priest forever in the priestly order of Melchizedek.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 100:1, 2, 3, 4

R (4b) You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.

The LORD said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand
till I make your enemies your footstool."
R (4b) You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.

The scepter of your power the LORD will stretch forth from Zion:
"Rule in the midst of your enemies."
R (4b) You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.

"Yours is princely power in the day of your birth, in holy splendor;
before the daystar, like the dew, I have begotten you."
R (4b) You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.

The LORD has sworn, and he will not repent:
"You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek."
R (4b) You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.

Gospel Introduction

We sometimes reduce our religion to a matter of casuistic laws: Is it permitted to heal on Sundays? When does it become a mortal sin if I am late for Mass? Is it wrong if I do not raise my hands for the Our Father? We sometimes behave like immature kids. God wants us to grow up in our faith. Where is the good news of Jesus? Where is our love for the Lord and for people?

Gospel Reading: Mk 3:1-6

Again Jesus entered the synagogue. A man who had a paralyzed hand was there and some people watched Jesus: Would he heal the man on the sabbath? If he did they could accuse him.

Jesus said to the man with the paralyzed hand, "Stand here in the center." Then he asked them, "What does the Law allow us to do on the sabbath? To do good or to do harm? To save life or to kill?" But they were silent.
Then Jesus looked around at them with anger and deep sadness because they had closed their minds. And he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out and his hand was healed. But as soon as the Pharisees left, they met with Herod's supporters, looking for a way to destroy Jesus.

Commentary

JESUS is being watched-already many have turned against him. And Jesus knows it. It's sabbath and he cures a men with a paralyzed hand. What is the work of the sabbath? What is the honor of God? True worship of God is always to save human beings and to lift them from their suffering and oppression. He knows that when he heals, he is setting in motion those who hate him, giving them fuel for the fire that will eventually consume him. They are already out to silence him, stop him and kill him.
Jesus is both deeply sad and angry. If we are in the presence of Jesus in our gatherings for worship and church meetings is that how he would look at us and what we are doing and choosing not to do? Does our worship, our resources and our decisions for work in our church and parish reflect the needs of so many who are paralyzed, cast aside and left in their misery? Or worse do we attack those who would help them, convicting us of our lack of compassion?

General Intercessions

–          That people everywhere may be given the time to rest and recover from the pressure of their work, and be given the opportunity to worship God and help people, we pray:

–          That the faithful who go to Mass on Sundays will also live according to the gospel on weekdays, we pray:

–          That the eucharistic celebration on Sundays may be to all Christian communities a source of great joy as we deeply encounter the Lord and receive the strength to follow him on his ways, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Our healing God,
you set the table of your Son
not merely for a select few
but for all, for the sick and the suffering,
for the weak and the lonely.
Let Jesus’ love, his acceptance of people,
his spirit of sharing and healing be ours
in all our Christian communities.
Teach us to set the table of ourselves,
as Jesus did, your Son and our brother,
who lives with you and stays with us
now and for ever.

Prayer after Communion

Our saving and healing God,
we thank you for uniting us
at the table of your Son in this eucharistic celebration.
Let the Christian community be
to all people what you are to us:
love and healing peace and joy
and a surprisingly generous gift,
a gift freely given and never regretted.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Blessing

When did you visit me? Perhaps the best day to visit our brother Jesus in the sick is Sunday, the day of the Lord! Bring God’s healing to people, with the Blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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