FRIDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - 2021

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

God in Christ was reconciling the world to himself,
and he has entrusted to us the news that they are reconciled. 2COR:5-19

HEBREWS 8:6-13 

My Soul's Beloved,

You are our High Priest and the New Covenant that God makes with us through the shedding of Your Blood. It is the final and eternal Covenant bringing to an end the one God made when He led His people out of slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land. The New Covenant is far better than the old for You are now the only and most effective mediator between God and humankind. Perfected through suffering, You plead for us night and day at the right hand of the Father and obtain for us, through Your perfect Sacrifice, mercy, redemption, and pardon for the sins of the whole world.

Just as the Father took the people of Israel by the hand and led them out of slavery to freedom, You came to take us by the hand and lead us from slavery to sin, to eternal life with You in the Kingdom of God. The old Covenant was powerless to save the New Covenant sealed in Your Blood and confirmed by the Holy Spirit guarantees salvation to all who believe in You, hope in You, and place their trust in You. 

PSALM 85:8, 10-14

My Soul's Beloved,

Grant us the wisdom to hold on to this truth - that we are saved and that we no longer belong to ourselves but to You. Let us not look to the world to save us; for our help and our salvation comes from You. All who walk with You walk in peace and free from fear. 

The world appears to be spinning out of control and evil seemingly dominates every sphere of human existence. In our extremely polarized world, we have become vicious. All sense of decency seems to have vanished, the laws of nature are denied and the Laws of God are scorned and mocked. And yet, despite all evidence to the contrary, the words of the psalmist hold true - 

Mercy and faithfulness have met;
justice and peace have embraced.
Faithfulness shall spring from the earth
and justice look down from heaven.

There is a faithful remnant on whom God looks with favor and whom He strengthens and blesses abundantly. They thrive and their courageous witness to the Truth will ensure that the fruits of the Holy Spirit will flourish once again. 

MARK 3:13-19

My Soul's Beloved,

Today's Gospel passage reminds us how You chose from among Your many disciples twelve who were to be Your closest companions. They would live with You, be formed by You, and taught by word and by example to prepare for the great commission that You would finally entrust to them.

This passage begins with the words, 'Jesus went up into the hills and summoned those he wanted.' You withdrew from the noise, chaos, and confusion of the world taking with You those who called, You chose, and You appointed - the Twelve. They would represent the Twelve Tribes of Israel superseding the Old with the New. The Twelve would form the apostolic college of Your Church. You established the hierarchy with Peter as its head and thus it will be, just as You intended, until Your return in glory. 

The names of the Twelve are, 'Simon to whom he gave the name Peter, James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom he gave the name Boanerges or ‘Sons of Thunder’; then Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, the man who was to betray him.' Each was given the same opportunities, to each was entrusted the same mission, to each was given the same grace. Sadly, Judas Iscariot squandered it all for the sake of the world.  A timely reminder to us that there will always be those, even in the highest ranks of the Church, who will give scandal. 

Every priest receives his vocation from You. It is You who confer the dignity of the priesthood to those whom You choose, call, appoint, and send. The mission entrusted to them is the one entrusted to the Twelve 2000 years ago, it does not change, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.'