Second Week of Ordinary Time

Heb. 9:2-3, 11-14 & Mk. 3:20-21

When the priests of the Old Testament offered atonement to God it was an imperfect sacrifice. They could not offer themselves – that would have been suicide – so they sacrificed animals as victims to represent them.

Heb.7:25-8:6 & Mk. 3:7-12

On two occasions God entered into a covenant with His people in a binding agreement based not solely on law but on love.

Through Moses as mediator God made a covenant with His chosen people. He agreed to love and care for them, and they promised to be faithful to Him. Sadly, they broke the terms of the agreement and were unfaithful.

Heb. 7:25-8:6 & Mk. 3:7-12

How comforting are these words, “The power of Jesus to save is utterly certain.” Why is this so? “Since He is living for ever to intercede for all who come to God through Him.” These are the opening words of the first reading. In them we can find great security. We want to be saved and now we know for certain we can be saved through Jesus our High Priest, “holy, innocent, uncontaminated, our Mediator with God the Father.” “He has His place at the right of the throne of divine Majesty in heaven.”

Heb. 7:1-3, 15-17 & Mk. 3:1-6

Among the Israelites the priesthood was hereditary. A man became a priest by being a descendent of Levi, and when he died the priesthood was passed on to his sons. Melchizedek was an exception.
That is why Jesus is compared with Melchizedek because His priesthood is also quite different - given to Him directly by His heavenly Father and it does not end with His death but continues, because He is a priest forever.

Heb. 6:10-20 & Mk.2:23-28

Heb. 5:1-10 & Mk. 2:18-22

A priest is called to be a mediator between God and humanity. He is a bridge which spans the gap between God and us. Jesus Christ is our priest, our bridge with God. The unknown writer of the first reading reminds us that the chief duty of a priest is to offer sacrifice to God for the sins of the people. Jesus offered the perfect sacrifice for the atonement of our sins on the Cross to God the Father. Every time we come to Mass Jesus renews this sacrifice on our behalf.

John 2:1-12

At the wedding feast of Cana Jesus took some plain ordinary water and turned it into quality wine. How could anyone in a matter of seconds, and without grapes, produce an excellent vintage?

2 Sam. 12:1-7, 10-17 & Mk. 4:35-41

The prophet Nathan was given a very difficult task from the Lord which demanded a great deal of courage. He was to confront King David with his sins of adultery and murder, and call him to repentance. Prudently, and with a great deal of ingenuity, he prepared David by telling him the parable of the selfish rich man. David fell into the trap.

2 Sam. 11:1-4, 5-10, 13-17 & Mk. 4:26-34

There is no need to read paperbacks or watch television to see sex and violence - we can find plenty of it in the pages of the Bible!

Sam. 18:6-9 19:l-7 & Mk. 3:7-12

Saul was the ruling king and David, his understudy, was most willing to serve in any way he could. He had already laid his life on the line for king and country against Goliath. They could have been the best of friends but Saul became extremely jealous: this came to a head when David won a resounding victory over the Philistines, and the people sang, “Saul has conquered a thousand enemies, but David has conquered ten thousand."