It is 27th January 2021. We celebrate the memorial of St. Angela Merici, Virgin and founder.
The readings are from Hebrews 10:11-18; and the Gospel from Mark 4:1-20.
Unlike the priests of the old who offered repeatedly the sacrifice of sin, Jesus offered Himself as a fragrant offering to the Father and sat near the Father. “For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.” (Heb.10:14). Since Jesus has offered that single sacrifice, do we need to attend the Eucharistic Banquet? Many argue on this ground and do not want to participate in the sacrifice in His memorial and remembrance. “He must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For God has put all things in subjection under his feet” (1 Cor 15:25-27). The Catechism clearly teaches us that “The Holy Sacrifice because it makes present the one sacrifice of Christ the Saviour and includes the Church’s offering. The terms holy sacrifice of the Mass, “sacrifice of praise,” spiritual sacrifice, pure and holy sacrifice are also used, since it completes and surpasses all the sacrifices of the Old Covenant.” (CCC.1330). Until He comes, we need to participate and benefit from the sacrifice. We all need to work on the tendency to be lethargic during this pandemic not to neglect the Holy Mass.
The responsorial Psalm, “You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.” (Ps.109:4).
Jesus explains the four types of soil that accommodated the seed. The potency of the seed and the generosity of the sower are beyond comparison and measure. It is the receptivity of the soil in which the seeds fell. It is being compared with the mindset of all of us who receive the Word of God everyday in our hearts and lives. The shallow, and the path people who receive the Word of God gladly, but they are not deep enough, the evil pecks it out of them by evil means. Hard hearted and the rocky people who received the Word of God, yet they are so stubborn and focused on themselves, even a minor level of suffering, pain and persecution comes in their life, they do not allow God’s Word to permeate their lives. Bricking, hurting, and wounding, thorny people who focus so much on others, pleasures of the world, and the sole intentions of their life to inflict pain in others hence they hurt the Word of God and the messengers of the Word and remain unproductive. Good, generous, willing people are those who are like the good soil receive the Word and willing to collaborate with God in producing the desired harvest. Which one are we? May the Lord help us to be the soil that makes God to bring best in ourselves. Have a lovely day. God bless you.