The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, January 30, 2001
Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Hebrews 12:1-4
Psalm 22:26-28,30-32
Mark 5:21-43
Full text: http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/index.htm
A Reflection on Today's Scripture:
The image of the "cloud of witnesses" evokes for us a great crowd of
saints -- models for us to follow -- in a great race. We can imagine
a vast marathon in which hundreds have subjected themselves to the
discipline of running beyond exhaustion, for they keep their eyes on
the leader -- the one who runs before them: Jesus Christ. Their
sweaty, painful gasping for breath is as nothing compared to His
being nailed to a cross. And so they endure the discipline of the
race because they run with His strength. He gives them their second
wind, and so they run and fall, pick themselves up as He did, and run
again -- to the finish!
They have divested themselves of anything that could slow them down;
they have freed themselves from the burden of sin which weighs on
them and impedes their progress toward the goal.
The scene changes from the saints of the Old Testament, to their
fellow Christians who encourage and spur them on -- the apostles, the
martyrs, their own companions. And the advice: keep your eyes fixed
on Jesus. As he endured the Cross, so you are to endure the race.
They are urged to go beyond the shame of contempt from pagans and
Jews to the glory of the Father's approval and brotherhood with the
Lamb.
No one likes discipline, but because it comes from the hand of a
loving Father, it can be endured. Because it joins our suffering with
that of our Crucified Lord, it has a dignity and a worth that gives
us a right to be numbered with that great 'cloud of witnesses' who
have gone before us."
- Msgr. Paul Whitmore ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
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