2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
17th January 2023 (Tuesady) Readings and Reflection
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Reading of the Day
First Reading: HEBREWS 6. 10-20
10.For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. 11.And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12.so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 13.For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14.saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” 15.And thus Abraham,b having patiently waited, obtained the promise. 16.For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. 17.So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18.so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19.We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20.where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
PSALM 111: 1-2, 4-5, 9 and 10c
Response: The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
Gospel : Mark 2. 23-28
23.One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. 24.And the Pharisees were saying to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” 25.And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: 26.how he entered the house of God, in the time ofd Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?” 27.And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28.So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Main Theme: All for good!
Indicative: God is ever deeply concerned about us. He will never turn a deaf ear to pleas and problems. At the same time, He will also not take for granted our struggles and sacrifices for His sake{alertSuccess}
The disciples of Jesus pluck the grain and eat it on a Sabbath day. The Pharisees make a fuss about it and complain to Jesus that they are breaching the law. If we remember yesterday’s gospel passage, it is interesting to compare it with today’s. Yesterday. they blamed the disciple for not doing what is lawful (that is fasting). Today, they blame them for doing what is not lawful (working on Sabbath).
2. This shows their evil nature. Right or wrong is not a matter for them. They are ever on the watch to catch Jesus on the wrong foot. They fail on different counts. First, picking the grains is not equal to reaping which is unlawful. Second, they fail to see the need and hunger of the disciples. Third, they are so negative-minded and prejudiced and so they are quick and eager to find fault with Jesus and his disciples. Fourth, they fail to see the spiritual and moral authority of Jesus that surpasses any law.
3. Jesus puts things clearly and in place. The good of the human person is far more important than all the laws. In fact, all the laws are ultimately aimed at the well-being of humans. Any law that does not lead to good is of no use. When people give more importance to the rules and fail to do good to others, their fidelity to the law will not count but their failure in charity will be culpable.
4. Besides, God is the Lord of everything, and no law and nothing is above him. One cannot put control and condition on God also. The Pharisees and scribes were foolish to put restrictions on the Master who controls and rules over everything.
5. As the Master’s disciples, we are called to be clear of this priority of benevolence in our life. When we are committed to good, for sure we too will come across opposition from the modern Pharisees and scribes. We may be discouraged. We may feel it is a futile and lone battle.
6. But in the first reading, we are assured that “God is not unjust so as to overlook your good work and your love for his name in service”. We are also encouraged to continue to demonstrate the same eagerness.
Imperative: At times, standing against the current, and the pressure of the false values will be very hard. But let us persevere in faith and patience because He who is faithful will “indeed bless you and multiply you”.{alertSuccess}