20 Jan
Sat
2nd Week in Ordinary Time
St Fabian, pope & martyr and St Sebastian martyr
Heb. 9:2-3,11-14
Ps. 47:2-3,6-9
Mk. 3:20-31
(Ps Wk II)
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How much more will the blood of Jesus cleanse us! The three little words "how much more" contain a deep sense of wonder, a contemplative realization of the extent of God's power and generosity.

Christ's sacrifice is frequently explained by analyzing the sacrifices of the Old Testament. In the words "how much more", the Letter of Hebrews calls us to a more contemplative attitude. No matter how great God's past deeds may have been, how much greater is the deed done through Jesus!

This sense of wonder may elude us, as it eluded some of the earthly relatives of Jesus. They could only think that Jesus was mad because He paid more attention to the needs of others than of His own. But when we look at this with eyes of faith, how much more we can see! How much more grateful we ought to be that God could so wear Himself out for our sake that He would even appear to be mad! They thought Jesus was mad, but how much more attractive, consoling and strengthening is the truth that God is not mad, only madly in love with us.



Lord, grant us a sense of contemplative wonder.

DAILY OFFERING
Eternal Father, I offer You everything I do this day; my thoughts, words, joys and sufferings. Grant that, vivified by the Holy Spirit and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, my life this day may be of service to You and to others. I also pray that all those preparing for marriage discover in Sacrament the source of Christ's grace for living a fithful and fruitful love. Amen.

PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH
INTENTION
That in our time, unfortunately marked by many episodes of violence, the pastors of the Church may continue to indicate the way of peace and understanding among peoples.
Elaboration

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