January 19, 2013

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Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 310

Reading 1 from St. Paul's epistle to the Hebrews
Heb 4:12-16

The word of God is living and effective,
sharper than any two-edged sword,
penetrating even between soul and spirit,
joints and marrow,
and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.

The Word of God is contained in two media.  In the Sacred Scriptures.  And in the Sacred Traditions of the Catholic Church.

No creature is concealed from him,
but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him
to whom we must render an account.

God sees everything and everyone is exposed to His eyes.

Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens,
Jesus, the Son of God,
let us hold fast to our confession.
For we do not have a high priest
who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,
but one who has similarly been tested in every way,
yet without sin.
So let us confidently approach the throne of grace
to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.

Have you ever said, "He is God.  He doesn't know how we feel!"  Jesus Christ is God made flesh.  Because He is God and man.  He has felt everything we felt and suffered more.  He understands our weaknesses.  

Responsorial Psalm
PS 19:8, 9, 10, 15

R.(see John 6:63c) Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.

R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.

R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.

R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart
find favor before you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

The Commandments are written in our hearts.  God also wrote them with His finger on a stone.  The metaphor is poignant.  Our hearts are made of stone.

The Commandments are the foundation of all morality.  Any transgression of the Commandments is sin.  Therefore it is important for us to know the Commandments so as to know the will of God.  

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark
Mk 2:13-17

Jesus went out along the sea.
All the crowd came to him and he taught them.
As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus,
sitting at the customs post.
Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”
And he got up and followed Jesus.

St. Matthew, the Evangelist, is Levi the son of Alphaeus.  He dropped everything and followed Jesus.

While he was at table in his house,
many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples;
for there were many who followed him.
Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners
and tax collectors and said to his disciples,
“Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
Jesus heard this and said to them,
“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

The Pharisees were opposed to Jesus befriending sinners.  But Jesus said to them that it sinners who need healing.  The righteous have their reward.

Jesus also said it in another way, here:

John 9:41
Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.