Daily Readings for January 21, 2015

1ST READING

Melchizedek is a very mysterious character. He appears from nowhere to Abraham, who offers him a tithe, and then he disappears just as quickly. All we really know about him is that his name literally means “my king is righteous.” The author of this letter seems to use him as an affirmation of the enduring nature  of the priesthood of Christ. The sacrifice Jesus made on the cross will endure for all time, in the same way that the priesthood of Melchizedek has become known to endure.

Hebrews 7:1-3, 15-17

1 Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High, met Abraham as he returned from his defeat of the kings and blessed him. 2 And Abraham apportioned to him a tenth of everything. His name first means righteous king, and he was also “king of Salem,” that is, king of peace. 3 Without father, mother, or ancestry, without beginning of days or end of life, thus made to resemble the Son of God, he remains a priest forever. 15 It is even more obvious if another priest is raised up after the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become so, not by a law expressed in a commandment concerning physical descent but by the power of a life that cannot be destroyed. 17 For it is testified: You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

P S AL M

Psalm 110: 1, 2, 3, 4

R: You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.

1 The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool.” (R) 2 The scepter of your power the Lord will stretch forth from Zion: “Rule in the midst of your enemies.” (R) 3 “Yours is princely power in the day of your birth, in holy splendor; before the daystar, like the dew, I have begotten you.” (R) 4 The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent: “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.” (R)

GOSPEL

Jesus breaks the sabbath again, not to antagonize the people but to reinforce what He is saying about the need to place love above everything else. If we focus on laws as being our savior or that of our society, then there will come a time when society will collapse under the weight of its imposition. Only love, lived freely, can provide a viable alternative. This is the challenge we face today with many people advocating change in laws regarding sexual morality. Only true love can teach us what is right and wrong; the law does not have the power to command us internally; only love does.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom and cured every disease among the people.TODAY’S

Mark 3:1-6

1 Jesus entered the synagogue. There was a man there who had a withered hand. 2 They watched Jesus closely to see if he would cure him on the sabbath so that they might accuse him. 3 He said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up here before us.” 4 Then he said to the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” But they remained silent. 5 Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored. 6 The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him to put him to death.

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