Thursday February 4

FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

 

POOR AND FREE FOR THE

 

Introduction

      Our religion today is not inspired or instilled by the fear of the terrifying signs of Mount Sinai but rests on Christ our mediator of the new covenant who sacrificed himself for us.

      Jesus wants his disciples to be without security and power, so as to be free to go to people in their own life situation and to be free to preach and witness to the gospel without ambiguity. Would that the Church today could give such an unambiguous witness.

 

Opening Prayer

Lord our God,
to go to the poor and to set them free,
your disciples must be credible
as people who are free themselves.
We pray you today for a spirit of poverty
that makes us free and available
to all those imprisoned
by the forces of evil.
May we thus, become authentic witnesses
of the Gospel of Jesus Christ,
your Son and our Lord for ever.

 

Reading 1: Heb 12:18-19, 21-24

Brothers and sisters:
You have not approached that which could be touched
and a blazing fire and gloomy darkness
and storm and a trumpet blast
and a voice speaking words such that those who heard
begged that no message be further addressed to them.
Indeed, so fearful was the spectacle that Moses said,
“I am terrified and trembling.”
No, you have approached Mount Zion
and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,
and countless angels in festal gathering,
and the assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven,
and God the judge of all,
and the spirits of the just made perfect,
and Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant,
and the sprinkled Blood that speaks more eloquently
than that of Abel.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 48:2-3ab, 3cd-4, 9, 10-11

(see 10) O God, we ponder your mercy within your temple.
Great is the LORD and wholly to be praised
in the city of our God.
His holy mountain, fairest of heights,
is the joy of all the earth.
R. O God, we ponder your mercy within your temple.
Mount Zion, “the recesses of the North,”
the city of the great King.
God is with her castles;
renowned is he as a stronghold.
R. O God, we ponder your mercy within your temple.
As we had heard, so have we seen
in the city of the LORD of hosts,
In the city of our God;
God makes it firm forever.
R. O God, we ponder your mercy within your temple.
O God, we ponder your mercy
within your temple.
As your name, O God, so also your praise
reaches to the ends of the earth.
Of justice your right hand is full.
R. O God, we ponder your mercy within your temple.

Alleluia: Mk 1:15

Alleluia, alleluia.
The Kingdom of God is at hand;
repent and believe in the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Gospel: Mk 6:7-13

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two
and gave them authority over unclean spirits.
He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick
–no food, no sack, no money in their belts.
They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic.
He said to them,
“Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there.
Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you,
leave there and shake the dust off your feet
in testimony against them.”
So they went off and preached repentance.
The Twelve drove out many demons,
and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

 

Intercessions:

–         Lord, they were only stammers and timid people, but you called Moses and Jeremiah to speak out and lead their people. Make us voice your word without hesitation, even to people not well disposed to listen, we pray:

–         Lord, they were only fishers cleaning their nets, but you called your apostles to spread your Good News. Make us fearless to speak your word, we pray:

–         Lord, they are only teachers or parish priests or employees, but you call leaders and members in our communities to tolerate no injustice and to defend the poor. Speak through them and through all of us what is right and good, we pray:

 

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord, almighty God,
you want your Son to come among us
not with splendor and power,
but in the poverty of the ordinary,
in everyday food and drink.
May we too, not attach ourselves
to things that tie us down
and those that give us a sense of false security.
Keep reminding us
that we are people on the way
to you and to one another
and give us our food for the road,
your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Prayer after Communion

Lord God, our Father,
your Son sent out his disciples
to bring his Good News and healing
to people in their everyday lives.
Help those in the Church who teach and celebrate liturgy
always to link faith and worship
to the realities of daily living,
that the unity of what we are and do
may be the Gospel and life of your Son,
Jesus Christ, our Lord.

 

Blessing

Jesus sent out his apostles to bring his message to people. They should not wear useless baggage and depend on the people’s hospitality. They are sent to heal and save. May your lives speak the message of the Gospel, with the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

 

Commentary

 

The Twelve apostles moving out in pairs on their first mission journey to preach and heal, speaks to us of the mission we all share as disciples of Jesus. Just imagine what each of us could do, even today, if we were to see ourselves as “sent” to the people closest to us – our spouses, our children, our parents, our friends, our co-workers, the people in our parish or community. Just imagine if each of us could see ourselves as commissioned by Jesus to bring peace and healing to others!

This is our mission today, to which the Lord is sending us: to bring liberation and peace to those who are entrusted to us through the healing love of Jesus. Facing the daily challenges in life, the Word of God calls on us to practice one single virtue: trust in the one who has called you, because he has placed tremendous trust in you. It is the trust that Jesus has in you and me that made him place us wherever we are. Do not fail his trust.

Ever felt insecure at home because you thought parents do not love you or your spouse does not appreciate you? Ever felt rejected in your work places or in the Church or in the community by people that matter, people in power? Perhaps these are the securities that Lord wants us to give up when we choose to be his ambassadors. The Gospel demands us to keep your money bag and personal kit that give us a false sense of security out of sight. Today, our securities could be people’s appreciation, our social status, or positions. We are invited instead to load ourselves with the Good News and love of God.

When we choose not to place our trust in our positions and possessions, Jesus promises to equip us with all the necessary powers to heal and to fight against the powers of the evil forces and to preach the Word of God. At the same time, he gives us a clue that not everything is going to be alright in your mission! There will be people who reject you– perhaps at home, in the Church, in your work places … wherever you may be. Do not be disheartened. The Message Bible gives the best expression as to how to respond to such rejections: “If you’re not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way.”

When we are out there, the Lord guarantees his constant accompaniment and that’s all the security we need!