Thursday, January 29, 2015

Thursday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

(Hebrews 10:19-25; Mark 4:21-25)

For quite a while, Catholics in the United States have maintained a consistent Sunday mass attendance.  More or less twenty-three percent honor the Sunday obligation.  “What’s so good about that?” some might ask.  Actually, it is not an impressive record.  But non-attendance is nothing new in the history of the Church as the first reading today attests.

The Letter to the Hebrews underlines a fault in the customs of the people.  It tells its readers, “We should not stay away from our assembly…”  Evidently, some in the community have given up the practice of common worship.  It is possible that they lived in fear of being noticed at Christian worship as the letter at different points suggests religious persecution.  More likely, however, the people were growing apathetic waiting for Christ to return. 

We can do something to increase mass attendance.  Showing interest in the people who come to worship, perhaps taking the time to talk with them over coffee when the service is over, will make everyone a more caring individual.  After all, it is Christ whom we engage in the Eucharist.  He doesn’t leave us when we are dismissed but brightens our whole lives.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

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.

Homilette for Thursday, January 29, 2009

Thursday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

(Hebrews 10:19-25; Mark 4:21-25)

Ancient Christians saw the pelican as a symbol of Christ. Their belief stemmed from the legend that the mother pelican pecked open her breast to give her offspring blood for nourishment. The believers understood Jesus’ shedding his blood for the salvation of sinners as the same type of life-giving sacrifice.

The Letter to the Hebrews provides vivid testimony to the efficacy of Jesus’ blood. For the last couple of weeks, readings from Hebrews at mass have testified how Christ’s blood surpasses all the sacrifices of the Old Covenant since he is totally unblemished. In fact, according to the letter, his Precious Blood has cleansed completely of sin those who partake of it. We have opportunity to drink his blood, like the pelican chicks are portrayed as taking the blood of the hen, when we receive the Eucharist. We might add that the fullness of the sign of blood is perceived in the consecrated wine -- the blood of the grape.

Today’s passage from Hebrews ends with an exhortation. Since those who drink the blood of Christ live anew, they should look out for their co-sharers in community. We surmise that the Letter to the Hebrews was written during a time of persecution when some Christians were falling away out of fear. Today people are leaving the Church because of the pitfalls of a secular age. We need to heed Hebrews’ plea that we encourage fellow Christians to stay the course of faith.