Tuesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings for Tuesday of the 4th Week in Ordinary Time
Commentary:
Reading 1 Heb 12:1-4
Hebrews returns to its principle theme in our selection today. We are encouraged to redouble our zeal for the faith. It is interesting that the author mentions specifically how the community (cloud of witnesses) strengthens the faith.
The reading goes on to place Christ’s passion as a model of steadfastness, encouraging the faithful to resist against all opposition. This resistance, says the author, should include shedding one’s own blood for the faith.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 22:26b-27, 28 and 30, 31-32
R. They will praise you, Lord, who long for you.
In this song of praise we hear the response to God’s covenant. It supports once more the idea from Hebrews that this act of worship is done in community by the individual. In fact the song presumes a communal worship of God. (“Let the coming generation be told of the Lord that they may proclaim to a people yet to be born the justice he has shown.”)
Gospel Mk 5:21-43
Mark’s Gospel continues today with Jesus continuing his journey of healing. The passage today relates two interwoven examples of the power of faith in healing. First we hear the Synagogue Official’s plea to Jesus to heal his daughter. This is important from the standpoint that it is recognition of Jesus status by the local faith community.
On the way to the little girl, a woman with a hemorrhage that had been incurable by local physicians pressed in close and touched his cloak. She was cured and it was like her faith reached out and touched Jesus unlike the others crowded around because he felt her touch among all the others. He turned and was able to specifically identify her. The Lord’s words to her were; “…your faith has saved you.”
Arriving at the Synagogue Officials house Jairus’ faith was tested a second time as he was informed his daughter had died. Jesus ignored these reports and proceeded to reward Jairus’ faith by bringing his daughter back from death; a sign of his mission to all mankind.
Reflection:
While there are some real “Wow” level miracles in the Gospel today, at a higher altitude there is a a flow in scripture today that emphasizes a really important element of our faith that many have ignored or said is unimportant. How many times have you heard or even said something like this yourself; “I don’t need to go to Church. I can pray and read scripture myself. I am a good person and do not need to be part of a community to prove that.”
I have heard it many times. The difficult part of this kind of rationalization is that it is difficult to refute, not because it’s true, but because personal spirituality is important; living the faith as a good person is important. This is especially a favorite defense used by teenagers who do not think it’s cool to go to Church or find it to be too much extra work.
What is missed when a person says; “I don’t need the community aspect of the faith” is a huge part of God’s message was sent to us, not as individuals but as community. The commandments, while they can and should be used as a personal code of conduct, were given to the community so that we can live together as God planned. The message cannot be fully understood applied to the individual. Look at just one example. The Great Commandment, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mt 22; 37-39) The first part of this commandment we can do on our own, love God, but the second part cannot be accomplished unless we live in community. When we go off by ourselves and say I do not need the community we have missed something very big because the community needs us. As Paul says in his letters, the body has many parts and all are needed.
This topic is huge and we cannot do it justice in the short reflective time we have. Today let us pray for the whole community of faith, that with them we are stronger in the faith and with us the Body of Christ which is the Church is also stronger.
Pax
Readings for Tuesday of the 4th Week in Ordinary Time
Commentary:
Reading 1 Heb 12:1-4
Hebrews returns to its principle theme in our selection today. We are encouraged to redouble our zeal for the faith. It is interesting that the author mentions specifically how the community (cloud of witnesses) strengthens the faith.
The reading goes on to place Christ’s passion as a model of steadfastness, encouraging the faithful to resist against all opposition. This resistance, says the author, should include shedding one’s own blood for the faith.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 22:26b-27, 28 and 30, 31-32
R. They will praise you, Lord, who long for you.
In this song of praise we hear the response to God’s covenant. It supports once more the idea from Hebrews that this act of worship is done in community by the individual. In fact the song presumes a communal worship of God. (“Let the coming generation be told of the Lord that they may proclaim to a people yet to be born the justice he has shown.”)
Gospel Mk 5:21-43
Mark’s Gospel continues today with Jesus continuing his journey of healing. The passage today relates two interwoven examples of the power of faith in healing. First we hear the Synagogue Official’s plea to Jesus to heal his daughter. This is important from the standpoint that it is recognition of Jesus status by the local faith community.
On the way to the little girl, a woman with a hemorrhage that had been incurable by local physicians pressed in close and touched his cloak. She was cured and it was like her faith reached out and touched Jesus unlike the others crowded around because he felt her touch among all the others. He turned and was able to specifically identify her. The Lord’s words to her were; “…your faith has saved you.”
Arriving at the Synagogue Officials house Jairus’ faith was tested a second time as he was informed his daughter had died. Jesus ignored these reports and proceeded to reward Jairus’ faith by bringing his daughter back from death; a sign of his mission to all mankind.
Reflection:
While there are some real “Wow” level miracles in the Gospel today, at a higher altitude there is a a flow in scripture today that emphasizes a really important element of our faith that many have ignored or said is unimportant. How many times have you heard or even said something like this yourself; “I don’t need to go to Church. I can pray and read scripture myself. I am a good person and do not need to be part of a community to prove that.”
I have heard it many times. The difficult part of this kind of rationalization is that it is difficult to refute, not because it’s true, but because personal spirituality is important; living the faith as a good person is important. This is especially a favorite defense used by teenagers who do not think it’s cool to go to Church or find it to be too much extra work.
What is missed when a person says; “I don’t need the community aspect of the faith” is a huge part of God’s message was sent to us, not as individuals but as community. The commandments, while they can and should be used as a personal code of conduct, were given to the community so that we can live together as God planned. The message cannot be fully understood applied to the individual. Look at just one example. The Great Commandment, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mt 22; 37-39) The first part of this commandment we can do on our own, love God, but the second part cannot be accomplished unless we live in community. When we go off by ourselves and say I do not need the community we have missed something very big because the community needs us. As Paul says in his letters, the body has many parts and all are needed.
This topic is huge and we cannot do it justice in the short reflective time we have. Today let us pray for the whole community of faith, that with them we are stronger in the faith and with us the Body of Christ which is the Church is also stronger.
Pax
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