Give It Away
Jan. 30: Thursday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
Ed. Note: I got mixed up on the days, so yesterday’s post had the correct Gospel reading but wrong first reading. So if the reflection sounds familiar, you’re not mistaken.
Jesus teaches with parables because simply giving straightforward instructions doesn’t often result in a change of behavior or perspective. Through metaphor, He forces us to think about the meaning of what we heard, and our own mental effort will engrain the ideas in us.
Reading 1
Heb 10:19-25
Brothers and sisters: Since through the Blood of Jesus we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary by the new and living way he opened for us through the veil, that is, his flesh, and since we have “a great priest over the house of God,” let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute trust, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, for he who made the promise is trustworthy. We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works. We should not stay away from our assembly, as is the custom of some, but encourage one another, and this all the more as you see the day drawing near.
In ancient times, Israelites could only approach God with the temple veil as a shield between them. The feared seeing God face-to-face would destroy them. Here, Paul tells us that Jesus has opened the veil with his own body, dying for our sins and allowing us to be saved. We shouldn’t be afraid of God, because Jesus told us we could have hope in His sacrifice.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6
R. (see 6) Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
We can’t approach God on our own. It’s impossible for all human beings—except one, Jesus Christ. He can stand in the holy place, and bring us along with Him.
Alleluia
Ps 119:105
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A lamp to my feet is your word,
a light to my path.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
This is a psalm of thanking God for his guidance in the scriptures.
Gospel
Mk 4:21-25
Jesus said to his disciples, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light. Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.”
He also told them, “Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you. To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
Yesterday’s Gospel was a parable given to he crowds. Here, Jesus addresses His closest disciples in private. After explaining the Parable of the Sower to them, He now tells them that part of their job will be to pass on the teachings He’s given them. The meanings of the parables are hidden now, but they will be revealed, which is where we are today.
He also specifically instructs that they hold nothing back from future Christians. The apostles are to give their blessings away, and they’ll receive more in heaven. This is why Gnostic (or secret) heresies are wrong-headed from the start. No one should be holding back the message of Jesus!