January 22, 2005 - Saturday, 2nd Week in Ordinary Time

Hungry for the Message

Readings:
Heb 9:2-3, 11-14; Ps 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9; Mk 3:20-21

Introduction

The Temple worship of the Old covenant could not save because it did not demand personal commitment of the one who sacrificed. But the sacrifice of Jesus was deep and total. He sacrificed himself. His blood brought us salvation.

Opening Prayer

Our saving God,
you have shown your people mercy
in your Son Jesus Christ.
May we belong to him,
that we may come to love him deeply
and in this way know him as he is,
and also know you as our Father.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

First Reading: Heb 9:2-3, 11-14

A tabernacle was constructed, the outer one,
in which were the lampstand, the table, and the bread of offering;
this is called the Holy Place.
Behind the second veil was the tabernacle called the Holy of Holies.

But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come to be,
passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands,
that is, not belonging to this creation,
he entered once for all into the sanctuary,
not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own Blood,
thus obtaining eternal redemption.
For if the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkling of a heifer(s ashes
can sanctify those who are defiled
so that their flesh is cleansed,
how much more will the Blood of Christ,
who through the eternal spirit offered himself unblemished to God,
cleanse our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9

R (6) God mounts his throne to shouts of joy:
a blare of trumpets for the Lord.

All you peoples, clap your hands,
shout to God with cries of gladness,
For the LORD, the Most High, the awesome,
is the great king over all the earth.
R (6) God mounts his throne to shouts of joy:
a blare of trumpets for the Lord.

God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy;
the LORD, amid trumpet blasts.
Sing praise to God, sing praise;
sing praise to our king, sing praise.
R (6) God mounts his throne to shouts of joy:
a blare of trumpets for the Lord.

For king of all the earth is God:
sing hymns of praise.
God reigns over the nations,
God sits upon his holy throne.
R (6) God mounts his throne to shouts of joy:
a blare of trumpets for the Lord.

Gospel Introduction:
      The few verses of today’s gospel tell us no more than that the crowd was so eager to hear Jesus’ message that they left him and the disciples not even the time to eat.

Gospel Reading: Mark 3:20-21

Jesus came with his disciples into the house. The crowd began to gather again and they couldn't even have a meal. Knowing what was happening his relatives came to take charge of him: "He is out of his mind," they said.

Commentary

EVERYWHERE Jesus goes he is mobbed. He has touched something in people like a raw nerve. His relatives come to 'take charge of him'-in the sense of getting him in check. They say 'he's out of his mind'-they too are afraid of him and the reaction he is stirring up publicly. But they are afraid for themselves and want to stop him and his preaching of conversion and the Good News of God to the poor and the lost sheep. It seems that Jesus has trouble with his family! Mother, cousins, aunts and uncles, in-laws? Extended families were sprawling in those days and you were associated with your blood kin and they with you, whether you agreed with them or not.

Today our families are sourced in the waters of baptism and the blood of the cross and we are bound in the Word of the Gospel and to the poor in the Body of Christ. Are we ashamed of those who publicly are associated with the poor, the sick, those who fall from grace, outcasts and those who society thinks are expendable and problematic? Do we think that prophets and those who associate with prisoners, those with AIDS/HIV, those without insurance, living on the street and of other races and religions are "out of their mind?" Are we related to Jesus really?

General Intercessions

– For ourselves and our communities, that all of us may be less demanding but more attentive to one another and serve one another’s needs and more, we pray:

– For the many who serve us in various needs, servants, repairmen, drivers, nurses, and all the others, too many to name, that we may be grateful to them, we pray:

– For those wounded and belittled by our words and conduct, that they may forgive us and inspire us to respect others more, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the disciples of Emmaus recognized your Son
in the breaking of bread.
Allow us to know him too
when here he breaks for us
the life-giving bread of the eucharist.
May knowing him mean for us too
to love him
and by loving him may we know him better.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord

Prayer after Communion

God our Father,
in this eucharist we have begun
to know Jesus a bit better
because he has spoken to us
and shared himself with us at his table.
May we lead others to know him
as the saving Lord of all,
who has brought forgiveness and life,
and may we praise you through him
as our living God for ever and ever.

Blessing

The people left Jesus and his disciples no time to eat. How eager are we to know Jesus and his Good News? May we come to know him well; then we will also know well what our life is all about. May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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