Friday of the
Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
(Hebrews 13:1-8; Mark 6:14-29)
Charlie and Pauline Sullivan have been working for reform
in prisons for forty years. They founded
an organization with the acronym CURE to unite people with the same
concern. The involvement of many hands and
the tireless work of Pauline and Charlie have moved legislators to implement
some of their ideas. Charlie and Pauline
exemplify what the Letter to the Hebrews today exhorts: “Be mindful of
prisoners as if sharing their imprisonment…”
As in other New Testament epistles, the Letter to the Hebrews
ends with an exhortation. After describing
Jesus as exemplary in every way, the letter urges readers to act like him. As Jesus entertained guests in his home, so
too must Christians welcome strangers.
As he relieved the burden of the oppressed, so too much Christians share
their load. As he was faithful and free,
so too must Christians uphold the sanctity of marriage and not get obsessed
with making money.
Today many Catholics, especially here in the United
States, come to church to have their throats blessed. They seek not only to protect themselves from
disease but also to connect themselves with the traditions of their ancestors. We might understand the custom in an
additional way in light of today’s exhortation.
We have our throats blessed so that we might encourage others to lead
lives worthy of Jesus Christ.
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