HUNGRY FOR THE MESSAGE
Introduction
The Temple worship of the Old covenant could not save because it did not demand personal commitment of the one who sacrificed. But the sacrifice of Jesus was deep and total. He sacrificed himself. His blood brought us salvation.
The few verses of today’s Gospel: tell us no more than that the crowd was so eager to hear Jesus’ message that they left him and the disciples not even the time to eat.
Opening Prayer
Our saving God, you have shown your people mercy in your Son Jesus Christ. May we belong to him, that we may come to love him deeply and in this way know him as he is, and also know you as our Father. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen!
1 Reading: Hebrews 9:2-3, 11-14
A tabernacle was constructed, the outer one, in which were the lampstand, the table, and the bread of offering; this is called the Holy Place. Behind the second veil was the tabernacle called the Holy of Holies. But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come to be, passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands, that is, not belonging to this creation, he entered once for all into the sanctuary, not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own Blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkling of a heifer’s ashes can sanctify those who are defiled so that their flesh is cleansed, how much more will the Blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9
R. (6) God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
All you peoples, clap your hands, shout to God with cries of gladness, For the LORD, the Most High, the awesome, is the great king over all the earth. R.
God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy; the LORD, amid trumpet blasts. Sing praise to God, sing praise; sing praise to our king, sing praise. R.
For king of all the earth is God: sing hymns of praise. God reigns over the nations, God sits upon his holy throne. R.
Alleluia: Acts 16:14b
Alleluia, alleluia.
Open our hearts, O Lord, to listen to the words of your Son. R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Mark 3:20-21
Jesus came with his disciples into the house. Again the crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat. When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”
Commentary
The contrast is obvious and disconcerting: as the crowd struggles to be near Jesus, to touch him, to hear him, to free them from evil; his relatives, embarrassed or perhaps jealous of his success, stop him from looking like a fool. The same happens in our communities: there are persons far from Christianity who seek Christ with enthusiasm, while some of the faithful, entrenched in an enclosed oasis, in their cold customs, prayers and traditions, are unable to follow the real Jesus even though they consider him their private property. Go to bubuyaya ground. Those around the minister are very overbearing on the people and so often than not, “control” the master. Worse, when those aids, or security people are the relatives to the man of God..
Intercessions
– For ourselves and our communities, that all of us may be less demanding but more attentive to one another and serve one another’s needs and more, we pray:
– For the many who serve us in various needs, servants, repairmen, drivers, nurses, and all the others, too many to name, that we may be grateful to them, we pray:
– For those wounded and belittled by our words and conduct, that they may forgive us and inspire us to respect others more, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the disciples of Emmaus recognized your Son in the breaking of bread. Allow us to know him too when here he breaks for us the life-giving bread of the Eucharist. May knowing him mean for us too to love him and by loving him may we know him better. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen!
Prayer after Communion
God our Father, in this Eucharist we have begun to know Jesus a bit better because he has spoken to us and shared himself with us at his table. May we lead others to know him as the saving Lord of all, who has brought forgiveness and life, and may we praise you through him as our living God for ever and ever. Amen!
Blessing
The people left Jesus and his disciples no time to eat. How eager are we to know Jesus and his Good News? May we come to know him well; then we will also know well what our life is all about. May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!