Wednesday of the First Week of Ordinary Time

Wednesday of the First Week of Ordinary Time

Readings for the Wednesday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time

Commentary:

Reading 1 Heb 2:14-18

Continuing the theme of Christ’s humanity, we now hear how Christ came to destroy the fear of death to which we had been slaves. He came as the sacrificial offering that through his suffering and death, those he loves may not have to endure the fate reserved for those who live in darkness.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

The song of praise we are given today exhorts us to praise the Lord constantly and to remember his covenant with Abraham and Isaac. We of course praise him for the new covenant in Jesus, for which the Son of God became the sealing sacrifice.

Gospel Mk 1:29-39

Jesus comes to the house of Simon (Peter) and Andrew from Capernaum, where we left him yesterday. He continues to heal the sick and to cast out demons. The Gospel tells us that the Lord then went of to a deserted place to pray and it was only when Simon and his companions came and found him that he continued his mission of proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

Reflection:

“Everyone is looking for you.” That is what Simon said when the disciples came and found Jesus in prayer. The truth of the matter is this that, whether they know it or now, everyone is still looking for him.

Who is not looking for the peace that Christ brings? He comes to still the troubled mind, he brings that warmth of heart that is only achieved when we are convinced that we are one with all things and that there is nothing we should fear.

He comes offering everlasting life. Who is not looking for that salvation for all eternity? Even if they say; “I don’t believe in God and death is just the end of my journey.” They still hope for life in the world to come. They may have difficulty believing it, but they none the less fear they may be wrong.

Who is not looking for belonging and the love that comes with being part of a family who loves them? Very few biological families live up to the standard of mutual love and respect that the Lord’s adopted sons and daughters find in His family.

Who does not secretly wish that they had a loving parent who, in all of the most difficult times of their life would be with them to support them? That is a part of the peace of Christ. Belief in Him brings us the constant assurance that our Father in heaven is with us and His Son, Jesus, left us the Holy Spirit that dwells within us. It marks us as his children forever.

The people we meet today will all fall into this class of, “looking for Him. The may have found some piece of the truth in their lives and they may have rejected that path not knowing where it could lead them. It is, after all, a difficult path and to find Him we must put aside our own greed and hedonistic impulses. That is something almost impossible for some people.

It strikes me that most people who seek the Lord but don’t know it or can’t seem to bring them selves to travel that path fall in to one or more of the following classifications:

1. They don’t know what finding the Lord can do for them.
2. They have never been shown the path and do not know how to get on it.
3. They are unable to put aside the products and values of their upbringing.
4. They may be prevented from getting on the path by their current life circumstances.

These reasons may manifest themselves in voiced rejection; “That’s stupid.” Or “I don’t believe that.” Or “That is for fools and simpletons.” But if we can get past that initial rejection, perhaps we can show them that “everyone is looking for him.”

Pax

ALTRE