DAILY- HOMILY

January 22, 2015 THURSDAY, 2nd Week in Ordinary Time

St. Vincent of Saragossa, Deacon and Martyr

Green

Heb 7:25-8: 6 / Mk 3:7-12

[Born in Huesca, Spain, deacon St. Vincent (d. 304) was martyred in Valencia during the persecution of Diocletian.]

Reading: Heb 7:25-8: 6 

     Consequently he is able to save for all time those who approach God through him. He always lives to intercede on their behalf.

     It was fitting that our High Priest be holy, undefiled, set apart from sinners and exalted above the heavens; a priest who does not first need to offer sacrifice for himself before offering for the sins of the people, as high priests do. He offered himself in sacrifice once and for all. And whereas the Law elected weak men as high priests, now, after the Law, the word of God with an oath appointed the Son, made perfect forever.

     The main point of what we are saying is that we have a high priest. He is seated at the right hand of the divine majesty in heaven, where he serves as minister of the true temple and sanctuary, set up not by any mortal but by the Lord.

     A high priest is appointed to offer to God gifts and sacrifices, and Jesus also has to offer some sacrifice. Had he remained on earth, he would not be a priest, since others offer the gifts according to the Law. In fact, the ritual celebrated by those priests is only an imitation and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary. We know the word of God to Moses with regard to the construction of the holy tent. He said: You are to make everything according to the pattern shown to you on the mountain.

     Now, however, Jesus enjoys a much higher ministry in being the mediator of a better covenant, founded on better promises.

Gospel: Mk 3:7-12

     Jesus and his disciples withdrew to the lakeside and a large crowd from Galilee followed him. A great number of people also came from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, Transjordan and from the region of Tyre and Sidon, for they had heard of all that he was doing.

     Because of the crowd, Jesus told his disciples to have a boat ready for him, to prevent the people from crushing him. He healed so many that all who had diseases kept pressing towards him to touch him. Even the people who had evil spirits, whenever they saw him, would fall down before him and cry out, "You are the Son of God." But he warned them sternly not to tell anyone who he was.

Reflection:

     Jesus is the perfect high priest who intercedes for us at the right hand of God the Father. Men have seen his face and he has lived among us. He suffered and died, sinless as he was, for our salvation, and now with his ascension into heaven, our humanity has also been raised. We have indeed a perfect mediator who does not need to offer sacrifices again to appease God. He has once and for all done this when he offered his body on the cross. The Father has accepted his sacrifice and has given him power to save anyone who cries to him for help.

     Why do you follow Jesus? Is it because of the miracles he has done for you? In the Gospel, great crowds followed Jesus because they have seen him doing many miracles – healing the sick, multiplying the loaves of bread, etc. Yet when things went wrong, only a handful remained.

     To follow Jesus even if he does not cure our ailments and solve our problems is the mark of a mature Christian. This requires a lot of faith and we are called to be faithful to him. Why? Because Jesus has always been faithful to us. His death on the cross should provoke us to believe this and to desire to follow him. Then when we have gotten to know him intimately, we will truly love him because his love for us is very deep and personal.No one loves us as Jesus does. Once we have experienced this, we will want not only want to love him back but also want to imitate him.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     DARYL C. SIMAN

     ROXANNE A. AZUR

     TOTI P. VENTURA

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

     LAWRENCE & CRICKET LESACA

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most. 

Have a good day!

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