Reflection on Today's Readings, Thursday, 2nd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1, and the Memorial of St. Agnes, January 21st, 2021
Texts: Heb. 7:25-8:6; Ps. 40:8-10.17; Mark 3:7-12
Do we ever doubt the ability of Jesus Christ to save us, at any time? We may say we do not, but it is glaring in our daily choices. When we fear to stand with Him, we doubt His ability to save us; when we refuse to keep His words, we doubt His ability to save us; when we jettison His commandments, we doubt His ability to save us; when we fear man instead of God, we doubt His ability to save us; when we fear to say the truth, we doubt His ability to save us; the list could be endless. Today's first reading says, "Brethren: Jesus is able to save those who draw near to God him, since he always lives to make intercession for them." His ability to save us is owing to the fact that He lives forever to intercede for us. Jesus Himself says, "In short time the world will no longer see me; but you will see that I live and you also will live" (John 14:19). We will live because He lives. He says, "I live", not I will live, as if He has not started living. It is not 'I lived' as if He only lived in the past. It is not 'I am living' as if it is for the moment. It is 'I live', which means He has been living and He will still be in the future without end; He cannot die. He is Lord of life; He gives life.
He lives forever to intercede for us. His intercession is true sure, certain and guaranteed because He lives forever. This means that the salvation through Jesus is true, sure, certain and guaranteed. If we can have confidence in man who is alive today and tomorrow is gone, we have no reason not to have faith in Jesus Christ who lives forever.
The holiness and freedom from sin also make the intercession of Jesus Christ efficacious, effective and powerful. The psalmist says, "Had I been aware of guilt in my heart, the Lord would have not listened, but in fact God did listen, attentive to the sound of my prayer" (66:18-19).
We are also reminded that His intercession is efficacious and superior to the intercession of high priest of the Old Covenant because He ministers in the true Tabernacle in heaven while the high priest of the Old Covenant ministered in the copy of the Tabernacle. Here, we see the superiority of Eucharistic sacrifice to the sacrifice of the Old Covenant. The altar of Eucharistic sacrifice is not a copy of the true altar in heaven but Christ Himself; the priest is also Christ Himself. In the Eucharistic worship, on earth we participate in the heavenly worship, we do not copy it. This is clear in the call to sing Hosanna; we are called to join the angelic hosts in heaven to sing it. The author of the letter to the Hebrews puts it thus: "But what you have come to is mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem where millions of angels have gathered for the festival, with the whole Church of firstborn sons, enrolled as citizens of heaven. You have come to God himself, the supreme judge, and to the spirits of the upright who have been made perfect; and to Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, and to purifying blood which pleads more insistently than Abel's" (12:22-24).
In the reading, an attempt is made to call us to faith in Jesus Christ; it shows us why we should hold fast to Him for salvation. We are convinced that the salvation in Jesus Christ is sure, certain and guaranteed. It tells us that the salvation in Jesus Christ is true, not fake or false. The gospel reading shows Jesus Christ bringing healings to the sick and saving people from the power of the evil ones. Just as the people in the gospel were attracted to Him because of the salvation He has brought to them, let us also come to Him for the salvation He has brought to us through His passion, death and resurrection. The salvation is true, sure, certain and guaranteed. For this salvation St. Agnes devoted her entire life, without reservation. It is said of her thus: "Agnes suffered martyrdom during the persecution of Diocletian in Rome. This young girl, who was only 12 years old, was sent to a house of prostitution for being a Christian. Agnes maintained her virginity and sanctity until death, in 304, proclaiming her faith in the Lord with great heroism (Brief note in Roman Missal, p. 1548). St. Ambrose says, "It is a virgin - let us imitate her chastity. It is the feast of a martyr - let us offer our sacrifice. It is the feast of Saint Agnes. Her martyrdom is said to have taken place in her twelfth year; and the more hateful was the cruelty which did not spare even so young a child, surely the greater was the power of faith which found a witness in one of such tender years" (Office of the Reading, p. 90*).
God our Father, we thank you for reminding us once again that the salvation you give through your Son is true, sure, certain and guaranteed; grant that may we never lose our faith in Him. Amen.
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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