Monday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings for Monday of the 4th Week in Ordinary Time
Commentary:
Reading 1 Heb 11:32-40
The Pauline author tells his audience he did not come to proclaim the prophets that he describes as righteous and brave. He explains that while they did what was good in the eyes of God, they did not receive the promise that is made to the followers of Christ. It is only through Christ that the resurrection and salvation may be achieved.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 31:20, 21, 22, 23, 24
R. Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.
A song of thankfulness and praise for God whose mercy is boundless and his forgiveness complete.
Gospel Mk 5:1-20
We are given St. Mark’s version of Jesus casting out the multitude of demons and sending them into the heard of swine. It is important to note that this is a pagan region so what the Lord is doing in helping the man with unclean spirits is ministering to non-Hebrews indicating the breadth of his mission. Also in this story the demon addresses him as “Jesus, Son of the Most High God” a title that identifies him clearly and without equivocation.
Reflection:
Perhaps one of the most important statements we are given today may seem anticlimactic. The man whom Jesus had cured asked, pleaded with Jesus to stay with him. Rather than accepting his offer, the Lord sent him back to his own people with the words: “Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.”
The message we can take from this incident is that what God does for us, He does out of his great love for us. We do not earn his mercy or his salvation; it is given to us because God has a special love for us. We can think of it as we think of what a good parent does for his or her child. What right do children have to expect all of the good things parents give them? What effort on the part of children causes the parent to lavish their love on them? It is not some merit in the child that causes or entitles the child to this love, rather it is the natural love the parent feels for the life that they, with God’s help and grace, brought into the world.
We have seen children try to do things that please their loving parents. They are eager to please them, especially when they are young. Do we not act the same way toward God our father? Are we not anxious to act in ways that we feel should make that heavenly parent happy? But think of the reward God promises. It is not an allowance or a special treat – it is the grace and peace of Christ. It is the resurrection on the last day. There is nothing we as human being could do to make our selves worthy of so great a prize.
Today let us give thanks to God the loving Father who through his great love for us gave his only Son so that we, who are totally unworthy, might enjoy an eternity with him.
Pax
Readings for Monday of the 4th Week in Ordinary Time
Commentary:
Reading 1 Heb 11:32-40
The Pauline author tells his audience he did not come to proclaim the prophets that he describes as righteous and brave. He explains that while they did what was good in the eyes of God, they did not receive the promise that is made to the followers of Christ. It is only through Christ that the resurrection and salvation may be achieved.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 31:20, 21, 22, 23, 24
R. Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.
A song of thankfulness and praise for God whose mercy is boundless and his forgiveness complete.
Gospel Mk 5:1-20
We are given St. Mark’s version of Jesus casting out the multitude of demons and sending them into the heard of swine. It is important to note that this is a pagan region so what the Lord is doing in helping the man with unclean spirits is ministering to non-Hebrews indicating the breadth of his mission. Also in this story the demon addresses him as “Jesus, Son of the Most High God” a title that identifies him clearly and without equivocation.
Reflection:
Perhaps one of the most important statements we are given today may seem anticlimactic. The man whom Jesus had cured asked, pleaded with Jesus to stay with him. Rather than accepting his offer, the Lord sent him back to his own people with the words: “Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.”
The message we can take from this incident is that what God does for us, He does out of his great love for us. We do not earn his mercy or his salvation; it is given to us because God has a special love for us. We can think of it as we think of what a good parent does for his or her child. What right do children have to expect all of the good things parents give them? What effort on the part of children causes the parent to lavish their love on them? It is not some merit in the child that causes or entitles the child to this love, rather it is the natural love the parent feels for the life that they, with God’s help and grace, brought into the world.
We have seen children try to do things that please their loving parents. They are eager to please them, especially when they are young. Do we not act the same way toward God our father? Are we not anxious to act in ways that we feel should make that heavenly parent happy? But think of the reward God promises. It is not an allowance or a special treat – it is the grace and peace of Christ. It is the resurrection on the last day. There is nothing we as human being could do to make our selves worthy of so great a prize.
Today let us give thanks to God the loving Father who through his great love for us gave his only Son so that we, who are totally unworthy, might enjoy an eternity with him.
Pax
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