Tuesday and Wednesday in Ordinary Time, Jan.16, Jan 17

Scripture: Hebrews 6:10-20; Psalm 111:1-2,4-5,9-10. Mark 2:23-28:

Hope is very important in our lives. It keeps us going both in our
ordinary duties and certainly is a big boost in our spiritual lives as we
journey with God and Jesus as disciples. I think both readings show us
this virtue of hope from a theological perspective. In Hebrews we learn
that God instills hope within us which acts like a sure and firm anchor in
the troubled waters of life. God assures us that God is faithful to the
promises made in the covenant with us. This confirms our trust and love in
God which is our hope for hope is based on this merciful and loving
kindness of God called a covenant. Jesus, too, is our hope. He is called a
pioneer, a pathfinder, and the image of God in the remarkable titles given
to him in Hebrews. They are very special titles and some are not found
elsewhere in the New Testament. Then as we turn to Psalm 111 we find the
essence of hope confirmed in the response: "The Lord will remember his
covenant forever." In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus, too, gives us hope in
giving us the true interpration and implementation of the laws and precepts
that God has given in the Bible. Jesus' disciples are permitted to pluck
the grains of wheat to stave off their hunger. Mercy overcomes law and
justice is bound up by kindness when it is at its best. Then Jesus gives
us all a lot to think about in the formation of our consciences. He says,
"The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." Jesus knows the
mind of God and shares this interpretation of the law in order to help us
when we are perplexed. Yes, hope is the theme for today and memory is the
resource for our hope. We are summoned to all upon God's promises to us
each day. Truly we are people of hope when we put our belief and trust in
God and Jesus through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Wednesday, in Ordinary Time, January 17,2007: Scripture: Hebrews
7:1-3,15-17. Psalm 110. Mark 3:1-6

Melchizedek is featured as a mysterious priest and king who offered bread
and wine and blessed Abraham. He is named only in Genesis, Psalm 110 and
then commented upon by the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews. This
Alexandrian Jew converted to the Christian religion within thirty years
after the death of Jesus. He probably was brought into the faith by St.
Paul. In interpreting the role of Melchizedek he sees a antitype or
similarity to Jesus' role as priest, king, and prophet. This is the first
inspired exegetical commentary on who Melchizedek is and it is inspired by
the Holy Spirit since it is one of the writings of the New Testament. I
tell my students that the more we know the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old
Testament) the better we will understand what is being said in the New
Testament. Just like those students who know the Bible are better able to
understand Milton's poetry. I encourage myself and everyone else to study
the Bible as a whole and each of its parts. It is a library of some three
thousand years with a wealth of information about who we are as humans and
where we are going--fundamental questions to what it means to be human. I
think we are able to find many things that mirror our own living
experiences as we move on in our journey of life. The Bible remains the
best seller of all time and also the greatest of stories ever told. As
Catholics we should not neglect what is known as the "deuterocanonical
books of the Bible." These were part of the Jewish faithful in Alexandria
and were probably read in the Synagogues of the Diaspora. The Greek
translation known as the Septuagint contains these writings. I jokingly
tell my students to buy a Catholic Bible since it has more pages and you
get your monies worth. Today's readings are an encouragement to all of us
to keep reading and studying the Bible for paths on our journey of life.
Amen.