First Reading - Hebrews 5:1-10
Gospel - Mark 2:18-22
The first reading describes Jesus as the High Priest of the new Covenant. It likens him to the class of ancient priests, (sympathetic and patient, not glorifying himself), then distinguishes Jesus from the others (because the Father called Jesus his Son). The people addressed in this letter had been put out of the synagogues when they accepted Jesus. Some were even abandoning Christ to return to Judaism. Hence, the writer of Hebrews tries to comfort them by depicting Jesus as a superior replacement for the priests upon whom they had formerly depended because Jesus was appointed by God to that ministry to serve the people as intermediary between God and man, and as man-God Jesus had empathy for and profound patience with “erring sinners.” The Jewish High Priest was a sinner like others, and his role was to offer sacrifices to God for himself and for the people as their representative. But Jesus, sinless, offered Himself as a sacrifice for all sin, and will continue to act as our mediator at “the throne of grace,” until the end of time. Further, Jesus, the Son of God, was appointed directly by God to an even better priesthood (“the order of Melchizedek,” Ps 110:4). In role, person, and appointment, Jesus surpassed every High Priest in ancient Israel. Hence, through Jesus, the true High Priest, we can approach the throne of grace with confidence and boldness, and we can expect mercy and favor from God. We are also assured that our High Priest, Jesus, sympathetic to us because He has shared our human nature, is able to be compassionate. Having suffered death to save us, Jesus is a wounded healer.
In the gospel, Jesus teaches us an important lesson regarding fasting. Responding to the question of some people, Jesus answers that fasting may be appropriate and inappropriate depending on the occasions. He further adds that the presence of kingdom of God in him is not a fitting time to fast but there will be an occasion when he will be absent from his disciples (concerning his passion, death and resurrection) and that will be a favorable time and not mere norms for their fasting. The passage further suggests that the way to God (salvation) is not merely through the religious practices but through joyful association with Jesus, the bridegroom.
The passage also mentions the twin parables to teach the incompatibility of the old garment, wineskin (scribal Judaism) and the new garment, wineskin (Christianity). Jesus has inaugurated the kingdom of God and those who believe in him and live by his teachings become the part of this kingdom which stands incompatible with old ritualistic practices.
Dear friends, many times we are concerned about the ritualistic life as Christians. The readings challenge us that our ritualistic practices may not be a necessary condition to belong to God but our obedience to His commandments. In the first reading, we have Jesus as an obedient Son of the Father who saves the humanity through the path of obedience. It's through his obedience to the Father, he shows himself as a beloved Son of the Father.
Jesus, in the gospel, speaks that it's a joyful association with him can lead the beleivers to the kingdom rather that ritualistic practices. Today we are to examine ourselves - Do we really belong to Jesus? It's not enough that we come to mass and do all ritualistic practices but don't live our lives according to the teachings of Jesus. They are needed but may not be obligatory condition to belong to God. We can belong to Him by carrying out his commandment as he has enjoined on us in the Beatitude and in love-commandment. Let's be a disciple of Jesus by living as he has taught to live.
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