Thursday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
(Hebrews 10:19-25; Mark 4:21-25)
Some commentators on the Letter to the Hebrews say that its clarion call to renewal stems from systematic persecution grinding down Christians toward the end of the first century. Others, however, see it more as a warning against apostasy in a time of disillusionment over Jesus’ promised return. Christians in most of the world today contend with the latter challenge. As we wait for Jesus to return, some in our congregations become especially anxious. Wonder if he will ever come, they stop attending mass and perhaps search for a religion with less doctrinal baggage.
Hebrews encourages the dubious both in the first century and today not to let go of Christ. It describes him both as accomplished as Einstein and as ordinary as any one of us. It assures us that he, and not Church preaching or music or even fellowship, makes our allegiance worthwhile. We come to “the assembly” or mass precisely because he is there in fullness. Further, we make every effort to love and do good works because the more we act like him, the more we will experience him.
