Readings for Monday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Hebrews 5:1-10
Every high priest is taken from among men
and made their representative before God,
to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
He is able to deal patiently with the ignorant and erring,
for he himself is beset by weakness
and so, for this reason, must make sin offerings for himself
as well as for the people.
No one takes this honor upon himself
but only when called by God,
just as Aaron was.
In the same way,
it was not Christ who glorified himself in becoming high priest,
but rather the one who said to him:
“You are my Son:
this day I have begotten you;”
just as he says in another place,
“You are a priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek.”
In the days when he was in the Flesh,
he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears
to the one who was able to save him from death,
and he was heard because of his reverence.
Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered;
and when he was made perfect,
he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Heb 5:1-10
This is an important passage from the standpoint of understanding the call to ministry, especially the Priesthood. It is frequently used at ordinations and provides an understanding of what it means to be called to a vocation; “No one takes this honor upon himself but only when called by God.”
The second part of the reading continues with Christ’s own call. The author does an excellent job of capturing Christ’s humanity in this description.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm:[4] Psalm 110:1, 2, 3, 4
R. (4b) You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
The LORD said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand
till I make your enemies your footstool.”
R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
The scepter of your power the LORD will stretch forth from Zion:
“Rule in the midst of your enemies.”
R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
“Yours is princely power in the day of your birth, in holy splendor;
before the daystar, like the dew, I have begotten you.”
R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
The LORD has sworn, and he will not repent:
“You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”
R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 110:1, 2, 3, 4
We are given the reference point used in the Hebrews reading we just heard. The psalmist, David, reflects upon the call to service of the people. The final verse specifically mentions the High Priest Melchizedek. Melchizedek was the ancient king of Salem (Jerusalem) who blessed Abraham (Genesis 14:18-20); like other kings of the time he performed priestly functions.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Mark 2:18-22
The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were accustomed to fast.
People came to him (Jesus) and objected,
“Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast,
but your disciples do not fast?”
Jesus answered them,
“Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?
As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.
But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them,
and then they will fast on that day.
No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak.
If he does, its fullness pulls away,
the new from the old, and the tear gets worse.
Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins.
Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins,
and both the wine and the skins are ruined.
Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Mk 2:18-22
In response to the question by the Pharisees, Jesus uses an Old Testament metaphor in which God’s relation to his covenant people is a marriage (see Hosea 2:16-20, Isaiah 54:5-6, Jeremiah 2:2, Ezekiel 16:32 ff) “Can the wedding guests fast?: the bridal metaphor expresses a new relationship of love between God and his people in the person and mission of Jesus to his disciples. It is the inauguration of the new and joyful messianic time of fulfillment and the passing of the old. Any attempt at assimilating the Pharisaic practice of fasting, or of extending the preparatory discipline of John's disciples beyond the arrival of the bridegroom, would be as futile as sewing a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak or pouring new wine into old wineskins with the resulting destruction of both cloth and wine (Mark 2:21-22). Fasting is rendered superfluous during the earthly ministry of Jesus; cf Mark 2:20.”[5]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
What immediately attracts our attention today is the first reading from Hebrews that speaks of the call to service. While Melchizedek is the archetype for the modern Priest, his ancient role is instructive for us as well. It seems that Melchizedek was a secular king and he was deputized by Abraham to perform priestly tasks for the people.
In that same sense we are called to be a “priestly people” ministering to one another. Just as the bridal metaphor used again today is a symbol of God’s love for his people, so we are called, by his example to demonstrate that same love to our brothers and sisters. As usual, this is the difficult part of our calling. But this is one we can put on someone else. If we ask ourselves why we are ignoring our baser impulses and sacrificing for the sake of others, we can tell others, “God made us do it.” For, hopefully, it is for His greater glory that we do these things and it is only with His help that we accomplish any good thing.
Too often, however, we fall into the trap of our human desires. We seek our own comfort in the face of a need to help our friends and even family as they face difficult times. It is at these times when the Bride becomes the harlot, seeking her own ends rather than the good of all desired by the Bridegroom. That image comes in many places from the Old Testament when the Covenant People ignore the will of God and seek their own ends. It is a challenge not only of our spiritual leaders but for ourselves to constantly check our motives and actions. Through prayer and meditation we continue to discern the way forward.
The Bridegroom is no longer with us in the flesh and we miss him always. However, we have the Holy Spirit which he left for us as guide and sanctifier. That same spirit that creates the archetype of Melchizedek in our priests who lead us spiritually, leads us individually as well. We pray today that we follow the Lord faithfully as a dutiful bride.
Pax
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Hebrews 5:1-10
Every high priest is taken from among men
and made their representative before God,
to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
He is able to deal patiently with the ignorant and erring,
for he himself is beset by weakness
and so, for this reason, must make sin offerings for himself
as well as for the people.
No one takes this honor upon himself
but only when called by God,
just as Aaron was.
In the same way,
it was not Christ who glorified himself in becoming high priest,
but rather the one who said to him:
“You are my Son:
this day I have begotten you;”
just as he says in another place,
“You are a priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek.”
In the days when he was in the Flesh,
he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears
to the one who was able to save him from death,
and he was heard because of his reverence.
Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered;
and when he was made perfect,
he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Heb 5:1-10
This is an important passage from the standpoint of understanding the call to ministry, especially the Priesthood. It is frequently used at ordinations and provides an understanding of what it means to be called to a vocation; “No one takes this honor upon himself but only when called by God.”
The second part of the reading continues with Christ’s own call. The author does an excellent job of capturing Christ’s humanity in this description.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm:[4] Psalm 110:1, 2, 3, 4
R. (4b) You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
The LORD said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand
till I make your enemies your footstool.”
R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
The scepter of your power the LORD will stretch forth from Zion:
“Rule in the midst of your enemies.”
R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
“Yours is princely power in the day of your birth, in holy splendor;
before the daystar, like the dew, I have begotten you.”
R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
The LORD has sworn, and he will not repent:
“You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”
R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 110:1, 2, 3, 4
We are given the reference point used in the Hebrews reading we just heard. The psalmist, David, reflects upon the call to service of the people. The final verse specifically mentions the High Priest Melchizedek. Melchizedek was the ancient king of Salem (Jerusalem) who blessed Abraham (Genesis 14:18-20); like other kings of the time he performed priestly functions.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Mark 2:18-22
The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were accustomed to fast.
People came to him (Jesus) and objected,
“Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast,
but your disciples do not fast?”
Jesus answered them,
“Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?
As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.
But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them,
and then they will fast on that day.
No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak.
If he does, its fullness pulls away,
the new from the old, and the tear gets worse.
Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins.
Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins,
and both the wine and the skins are ruined.
Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Mk 2:18-22
In response to the question by the Pharisees, Jesus uses an Old Testament metaphor in which God’s relation to his covenant people is a marriage (see Hosea 2:16-20, Isaiah 54:5-6, Jeremiah 2:2, Ezekiel 16:32 ff) “Can the wedding guests fast?: the bridal metaphor expresses a new relationship of love between God and his people in the person and mission of Jesus to his disciples. It is the inauguration of the new and joyful messianic time of fulfillment and the passing of the old. Any attempt at assimilating the Pharisaic practice of fasting, or of extending the preparatory discipline of John's disciples beyond the arrival of the bridegroom, would be as futile as sewing a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak or pouring new wine into old wineskins with the resulting destruction of both cloth and wine (Mark 2:21-22). Fasting is rendered superfluous during the earthly ministry of Jesus; cf Mark 2:20.”[5]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
What immediately attracts our attention today is the first reading from Hebrews that speaks of the call to service. While Melchizedek is the archetype for the modern Priest, his ancient role is instructive for us as well. It seems that Melchizedek was a secular king and he was deputized by Abraham to perform priestly tasks for the people.
In that same sense we are called to be a “priestly people” ministering to one another. Just as the bridal metaphor used again today is a symbol of God’s love for his people, so we are called, by his example to demonstrate that same love to our brothers and sisters. As usual, this is the difficult part of our calling. But this is one we can put on someone else. If we ask ourselves why we are ignoring our baser impulses and sacrificing for the sake of others, we can tell others, “God made us do it.” For, hopefully, it is for His greater glory that we do these things and it is only with His help that we accomplish any good thing.
Too often, however, we fall into the trap of our human desires. We seek our own comfort in the face of a need to help our friends and even family as they face difficult times. It is at these times when the Bride becomes the harlot, seeking her own ends rather than the good of all desired by the Bridegroom. That image comes in many places from the Old Testament when the Covenant People ignore the will of God and seek their own ends. It is a challenge not only of our spiritual leaders but for ourselves to constantly check our motives and actions. Through prayer and meditation we continue to discern the way forward.
The Bridegroom is no longer with us in the flesh and we miss him always. However, we have the Holy Spirit which he left for us as guide and sanctifier. That same spirit that creates the archetype of Melchizedek in our priests who lead us spiritually, leads us individually as well. We pray today that we follow the Lord faithfully as a dutiful bride.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture today is “The Meeting of Abraham and Melchizedek” by Pieter Pauwel Rubens, 1625
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana
[4] Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved
[5] See NAB footnote for MK 2:18-22
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