JESUS CHRIST— MEDIATOR— HEALER
Introduction
Christ Jesus is the mediator, perfect, unique, who offered himself once for all. All who believe in him get access to God through him. He intercedes for us. That is his ministry now.
In the Gospel, Mark gives a summary of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee. Yesterday, we heard how the Pharisees are blind to him and attack him on legal points; the crowds flock to him because of his healing power, not so much to be converted. The demons know who Jesus is, but, of course, they do not believe in him. Here, we have different attitudes, but no faith yet. This is why, perhaps, Mark imposes silence on the spirits. We offer this Eucharist together with Christ, our only Saviour and Mediator, who always intercedes for us.
Opening Prayer
God, our Father,
through your Son, Jesus Christ,
you brought healing to your people
and came to bind us to you
in a lasting covenant of love.
May we not only admire his saving power
but accept him in faith as our brother,
your Son, our Lord and Saviour.
Make him the ground and meaning of our lives
and fill us with his Holy Spirit,
that we may build up among us
your kingdom and a community
of faith, hope and love.
We ask you this through Christ, our Lord. Amen!
1 Reading HEBREWS 7:25—8:6
Jesus is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them. It was fitting that we should have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, higher than the heavens. He has no need, as did the high priests, to offer sacrifice day after day, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did that once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints men subject to weakness to be high priests, but the word of the oath, which was taken after the law, appoints a son, who has been made perfect forever. The main point of what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle that the Lord, not man, set up. Now every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus the necessity for this one also to have something to offer. If then he were on earth, he would not be a priest, since there are those who offer gifts according to the law. They worship in a copy and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary, as Moses was warned when he was about to erect the tabernacle. For God says, “See that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” Now he has obtained so much more excellent a ministry as he is mediator of a better covenant, enacted on better promises.
Responsorial PSALM 40:7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 17
R. (8a and 9a) Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
Sacrifice or oblation you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Burnt offerings or sin-offerings you sought not;
then said I, “Behold I come.” R.
“In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
To do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!” R.
I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know. R.
May all who seek you
exult and be glad in you,
And may those who love your salvation
say ever, “The LORD be glorified.” R.
Alleluia 2 TIMOTHY 1:10
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Saviour Jesus Christ has destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel MARK 3:7-12
Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples. A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea. Hearing what he was doing, a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan, and from the neighbourhood of Tyre and Sidon. He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him. He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him. And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him and shout, “You are the Son of God.” He warned them sternly not to make him known.
Commentary
The supreme sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary was done once and for all. Unlike the Levitical priests who had to offer sacrifice “day after day” and whose sacrifice was incapable of taking sins away, on the cross the debt we owed due to our sins were completely removed. We owe nothing. Whenever, we gather in prayer to re-enact the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, we are not repeating but sharing in the blessings Jesus gained for us by His suffering, death and resurrection. At mass we do not rely on our own merits but through the merits of Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, and the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Even when we do not consider ourselves worthy to stand before the throne of God, let us remember that it is no longer we who live but Christ who lives in us. It is through Christ that our sacrifices are found worthy to reach the throne of God.
Intentions
– That today many find Jesus and deeply believe in him, we pray:
– That Jesus may touch the hearts of many and heal them from their selfishness, we pray:
– That all the Churches that claim Christ as their head may find unity in him, even if the road is long and difficult, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
God our Father,
we offer you the sacrifice of Jesus Christ,
your Son and our Lord,
and our only mediator.
May he intercede for us, your people,
and bind us forever to you
in a covenant of lasting friendship and fidelity,
that we may belong to you
as the people you have saved
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen!
Prayer after Communion
God our Father, in this Eucharist
your Son, Jesus, has brought before you
our prayers, our good intentions,
and also our weakness, our hesitant faith.
Yet, we are sure you accept us
because of him, our only priest and mediator.
Make our faith and love grow,
that your Son may be the Lord of our lives,
your saving presence,
and we your faithful people,
now and for ever. Amen!
Blessing
Many have heard about Jesus and his message. Yet, some do not believe. The way we live should confirm our faith, even though faith is a free gift, a grace from God. May Almighty God give you faith, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!