Jan 27 and 28th. Lectionary 320, 321

Scripture: Lectionary 320,321. Jan 27: Hebrews 10:19-25. Psalm
24:1-2.3-4.5-6. Mark 4:21-25:

There is a certain sense of urgency in the Epistle to the Hebrews that we
are to experience in our journey of faith to the heavenly realm where our
highpriest Jesus is our intercessor. Through his precious blood-the symbol
for his death on the Cross--we are encouraged to trust that our salvation
is assured provided we remain faithful to his covenant of love with Jesus
has with us and that we endure our own sufferings, temptations, and aging
with patient endurance. Sincerity, confidence, hope, and love are signs
that we are on a pilgrimage with our pioneer Jesus who leads the way. Even
fidelity to the meetings of the Christian community to which we belong are
a part of the message from Hebrews.

Our psalm response exhorts us to seek the face of God. For us who are
Christians that face is that of Jesus who became one with us through his
assuming our human nature. We therefore approach the altar of God with
faith, reverence, and love. The Psalm and the Epistle continually exhort
us to praise God and to do this with acts of faith, hope, and love--gifts
of our baptism into the mysteries of Christ.

Mark too always has a dimension of urgency to what he is proclaiming in his
Gospel. We are to be the light for others not a lamp hidden under a desk
or table; we are to be overflowing with love in our generous giving to
others who look for the light of Christ and need our time and energy.
Fullness not emptiness is the call and invitation of the Gospels. We
believe in the glass being full not half full. Jesus again and again uses
the same expression to encourage us to LISTEN: "Listen carefully to what
you hear." Our faith has to spring from our heart each day. This gives us
the energy and motivation to respond to the urgency that the readings
beckon us to do. Our heavenly goal, that of the kingdom awaits us. We are
all pilgrims on the way toward it.
Amen.

Scripture: Jan 28. Lectionary # 321: Hebrews 10:32-39. Psalm
37:3-4.5-6.23-24. 39-40. Mark 4:26-34.

Whenever we hear the word "just" or "righteousness" proclaimed from the
Gospel, we are to think of our universal call to holiness. Vatican II, in
its Constitution on the Church, invites each of us to be holy persons not
in a pious manner or with saccarine devotions but men and women of faith.
We are to be strong in our faith (Fortes in Fide). Often we hear at Masses
for Christian Burial the following: "The souls of the just are in the hands
of God." We easily can think of our own ancestors who fulfilled that call
to holiness and are now literally in the arms of God's love in heaven. We
call to mind that Joseph, Mary, Elizabeth, and Zacharia were just and
righteous persons. We learn from the Epistle of St. Peter that we are a
holy and priestly people a nation set apart for the Lord.

The Epistle to the Hebrews continues such encouragment to be holy, that is,
righteous and just. In today's reading we learn that the "just one" lives
by faith--a theme taken from the prophet Habakkuk. It is also found in
Paul's Epistle to the Romans and encourages us to have strong faith, a
faith of the heart. Romans 4 has the citation from Habakkuk and chapter ten
of Romans helps us to understand what "faith of the heart" is.

Blessed William Joseph Chaminade who was beatified on September 3, 2000
together with Abbot Marmion and Pope John XXIII advocated "faith of the
heart" as essential to his Marianist Family in its many branches of vowed
and lay people. This year is the 250th anniversary of his birth (he died
Jan.22, 1850). He wanted all of his followers to be "strong in
faith" (Fortes in Fide). And as the last line from Hebrews says today we
are to be "among those who have faith and live." (Hebrews 10:39).

Our Psalm Response can act as a short prayer that springs from faith of the
heart: "The salvation of the "just" comes from the Lord...for the hand of
the Lord sustains us." Amen.