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| “Saint Agnes” artist and date are UNKNOWN |
Reading 1: Hebrews 7:1-3, 15-17
Melchizedek, king of Salem
met Abraham as he returned
from his defeat of the kings
and blessed him.
And Abraham apportioned to
him a tenth of everything.
His name first means
righteous king,
and he was also “king of Salem
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.
It is even more obvious if
another priest is raised up
after the likeness of
Melchizedek, 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.
For it is testified:
You are a priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek.
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Commentary on Heb 7:1-3, 15-17
This selection uses two sets of verses from the 7th
chapter of Hebrews. The first set,
verses 1-3 describes the appointment by Abraham of Melchizedek as High Priest
(see Genesis 14:17-20). The significance of the “High
Priest” is emphasized by a description of the meaning of his name; “righteous king”
and “king of peace”. “Since Genesis gives no
information on the parentage or the death of Melchizedek, he is seen here as a
type of Christ, representing a priesthood that is unique and eternal “[4]
The second set of verses, 15-17 references Jesus’ coming and how
his authority comes, not from appointment or lineage like the levitical
priesthood, but rather from his immortal existence. In doing so and fulfilling the immortal
priesthood of Psalm 110: 4 (below), Jesus
supersedes both the law and the contemporary Hebrew understanding of High
Priest.
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 110:1, 2, 3, 4
R. (4b) You are a priest for ever, in the line of
Melchizedek.
The LORD said to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand
till I make your enemies your
footstool.”
R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of
Melchizedek.
The scepter of your power the
LORD will stretch forth from Zion
“Rule in the midst of your
enemies.”
R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of
Melchizedek.
“Yours is princely power in
the day of your birth, in holy splendor;
before the daystar, like the
dew, I have begotten you.”
R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of
Melchizedek.
The LORD has sworn, and he
will not repent:
“You are a priest forever,
according to the order of Melchizedek.”
R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of
Melchizedek.
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Commentary on Ps 110:1, 2, 3, 4
We are given the reference point used in the Hebrews 5:1-10. The psalmist, David,
reflects upon the call to service of the people. The final verse specifically
mentions the High Priest Melchizedek. Melchizedek
was the ancient king of Salem (Jerusalem) who blessed Abraham (Genesis 14:18-20); like other kings of the
time he performed priestly functions.
Psalm
110 thanks God for earthly authority, recognizing that it is only through His
strength that authority is exercised.
Using Melchizedek as an arch example, he was a secular king in the time
of Abraham who ruled on the spiritual side as well. Though he was not of the Hebrew race, he was
none the less chosen by God to be priest not of the line of Aaron. Since the ancient text refer neither to his
lineage nor his death, his office is seen as eternal (“You are a priest forever…”)
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Gospel: Mark 3:1-6
Jesus entered the synagogue.
There was a man there who had
a withered hand.
They watched Jesus closely
to see if he would cure him
on the sabbath
so that they might accuse
him.
He said to the man with the
withered hand,
“Come up here before us.”
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.
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.
The Pharisees went out and
immediately took counsel
with the Herodians against
him to put him to death.
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Commentary on Mk 3:1-6
Mark’s Gospel again shows a picture of Jesus in contention with
the scribes and Pharisees. This time
they use bate; a man with an affliction is apparently used to trap Jesus into
doing something that by Pharisaic Law was considered “labor”. Jesus tries to show them the flaw in their
logic with a question; “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to
do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” But they will not respond because the answer
is obvious. With his opponents reduced
to silence, the cures the man (see also John
5:17-18). Their attempt foiled, they run to the minions
of King Herod to continue their plotting.
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Reflection:
See the lesson Jesus teaches
in St. Mark’s Gospel. The Lord comes to
the synagogue to both participate in worship and to teach. Those who have nervously watched him with
suspicion (“Is he a prophet – a holy man?”) have seen a weakness. This man cannot turn his back on suffering
people and he has reportedly healed people on the sabbath before. So they devise a trap. While he is in the synagogue – on sabbath,
they bring him a man with a withered hand.
We can only imagine the human emotions that must have played through the
Lord’s mind when they trotted out this poor dupe.
Jesus easily saw the
trap. Being the consummate interpreter
of human motivation, he would have noted the cliquish group with their large Phylacteries
and long Tassels, clear marks of the Pharisees.
He would have noted their hushed whispers as the deformed man came
forward and have instantly understood their motives. He turned to them, perhaps sternly and asked
them a fundamental question; “’Is it lawful to do good
on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?’” They would
were caught in their own trap. How could
they deny that it was unlawful to do good?
How could they argue that to save life was unlawful? They could say nothing.
Seeing the effect of his
words, the Lord would turn once more to the poor man who carried an affliction
these same Pharisees had told him was a punishment from God. Because of the attitudes and pronouncements
of these same men, the man with a withered hand not only carried a physical
disability but also endured the constant stigma of being under God’s
punishment. The Lord, with a word “Stretch out your hand” gave the man his life.
We
see in the petty attitudes of the Pharisees the trap we can also fall into if
we are not careful. We, in the Catholic
Church, have the most disciplined requirements for living our faith. We are required to remain in a constant state
of grace so that we are eligible to receive the Body of Christ. We require attendance at Mass on Sundays and
on holy days of obligation and rest from servile labor; confession of our sins
at least once a year; reception the sacrament of the Eucharist at least during
the Easter season. We are required to observe
the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church and help to
provide for the needs of the Church.
These
precepts are the minimum requirements of our faith. Yet; faced with the needs of the Great
Commandment, even these are placed in perspective. The precepts are the discipline we offer as
service to the Lord; loving God and neighbor are the outward signs that we know
what these acts of devotion mean.
Jesus
sends us a message through St. Mark today.
We are called to be a holy and sanctified people who not only follow the
Laws of the Church but follow its spirit as well. We pray for the strength and discipline to do
both.
Pax
[1]
ALTRE
[2]
The picture used today is “Saint Agnes” artist and date are UNKNOWN
[3]
The readings are taken from the New
American Bible with the exception of the Psalm and its response which were
developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This re-publication is not authorized by
USCCB and is for private use only.
[4]
See NAB footnote on Hebrews 7: 1-3
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