Hebrews 7:1-3, 15-17, Psalm 110:1-4, Mark 3:1-6

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Hebrews 7:1-3, 15-17, Psalm 110:1-4, Mark 3:1-6

Hebrews 7:1-3, 15-17

My Beloved, You are God and in You there is no beginning and no end.  God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God.  Begotten not made, consubstantial with the Father and through You all things are made visible and invisible.  As the Eternal High Priest, You came out to meet Abraham our father in faith in order to bless him.

King of Justice and King of peace.  The world desires justice and peace my Beloved yet this is denied to many who are voiceless, powerless and who have the boot of the wicked who live by violence and greed on their neck.  But every sigh reaches You my God and in the end You will demand that justice be satisfied and that peace will be granted to those whose backs have long been beaten into submission.

My Beloved, we thank God for appointing You as the only just and righteous Judge. Through Your judgments peace will prevail.

Psalm 110:1-4

The eternal God said to the eternal God who is His eternal Son to take His place at His right hand.  It is a place that God the Father has appointed for His Son.  Our Deliverer has crushed the foe, the rebel, the enemy - Satan.  He has robbed death of its sting so we are no longer afraid to die.  It is only by dying that our hope of living in the presence of God eternally can be realized.  Death has been routed roundly and lies impotent at the entrance of the empty tomb.

My Beloved, the world lives in denial of You hoping that the Truth which makes them uncomfortable will go away if they ignore it.  They cover their eyes and believe that You no longer rule the world that You redeemed.  That You are not passionately involved in the sanctification of all people for whom You lay down Your life.  But God has raised You up and given You a Name, a rule and a dignity that is higher than high.  Born of the Father before time began, You are the King of kings and a High Priest forever and I am privileged to call you my Love, my Friend, my Brother, my Bridegroom, my Beloved, my Spouse, my Life and my all.

Mark 3:1-6

My Beloved, the good, the bad and the ugly gather in the places of worship if not regularly then at least once a week.  Some like the tax collector go home justified whereas others go back exactly as they had come - unchanged.  

Here is a representation of a sinner in the form of the man with the withered or paralyzed hand.  Perhaps a niggardly spirit had not only shrivelled his soul but his hand as well since it was never stretched out in giving and in touching.  The sin of selfishness robbed his hand of its mobility.  It was frozen and stiff, hardened by indifference.  Everyone judged him to be a sinner.  His presence in the Church was tolerated since it is the home of sinners with the potential to become saints.

Those who come out of a sense of obligation were there to find fault and criticise everything.  They came neither to contribute nor participate but were ready to spew the venom, the brew of their self-righteousness on God Himself for blessing and healing those they have condemned to hell.  They watch God with narrowed eyes and furrowed brows with the sole intent of accusing Him for not following the letter of the law.  Love and compassion, forgiveness and mercy they do not understand.  

You were never afraid to confront the powerful and those in authority and challenge them into accepting that love is the law that must rule our lives and prompt the course of our actions.  The hard hearted and the proud can never know or understand the ways of God and so You shake Your dear head in wonder at our stubborn hardened hearts and continue as always to heal and restore the life of the sinner.  You  command that we stretch out our hand in generosity to serve our neighbor and lo and behold we are healed.  Thank You Lord.