23 January 2016
Weekday, 2nd Week in Ordinary Time
Green. 2 Sm 1: 1 - 4, 11 - 12, 19, 23 – 27. Mk 3: 20 – 21.
From the 1st Reading: 2 Sm 1: 12, 19, 23 – 27
And they mourned, weeping and fasting until evening, for the death of Saul and his son Jonathan, for all the people of Judah and for the nation of Israel.
"Your glory, O Israel, is slain upon your mountains! How the mighty ones have fallen!
"Saul and Jonathan, beloved and cherished, neither in life nor in death were they parted: swifter than eagles they were and stronger than lions. Women of Israel, weep over Saul who clothed you in precious scarlet. How the valiant have fallen! In the midst of the battle Jonathan lies slain on the mountains. I grieve for you, my brother Jonathan; how dear have you been to me! Your love for me was wonderful, even more than the love of women. How the valiant have fallen! The weapons of war have perished!"
Gospel Reading: Mk 3: 20 – 21
They went home. The crowd began to gather again and they couldn't even have a meal. Knowing what was happening his relatives came to take charge of him: "He is out of his mind," they said.
Reflection
The Christian today is the odd man out. Christ did not come to the world for popularity or to win men's approval. This gives us an insight to what Christianity is. Most of the time, to be a Christian is to go against the tide. Many times it will go against human common sense.
Let us take courage in the fact that Christ was the first to enter this challenge and overcome it victoriously, always trusting his Father, never doubting the love of God. This trust has been the one sustaining Christ all his life when he was driven out of towns, whe