Questions for Reflection for January 16, 2023 HD

Reflection for Reading 1, Hebrews 5:1-10 1. The author of this letter to the Jewish Christians of the early church teaches that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of all of the promises made to Israel. It is setting the Paschal Mystery, the life, death, and Resurrection of Jesus, in the context of the entirety of Old Testament revelation. This is the Good News. That the Father sent His Son, the Word through whom the Universe was made, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, as the Messiah of all men and women. Jesus is the High priest whose voluntary Sacrifice of His own life fulfills and completes the entirety of the sacrifices made in the past by the priesthood. This beautiful letter teaches us that Jesus, in His Sacred Humanity, was a man like us in all things, but sin. He understands our weaknesses and identities with our humanity. Because of His Divinity, His sacrifice has won for us freedom from the law of sin and death and given us a new life. We have been freed from sin, its penalty, and consequences, and from death. We have been freed for a NEW WAY OF LIFE. Do we view our Catholic Christian faith as engaging the entirety of our life and calling us to live differently, to live a unity of life? Or do we see it as fulfilling a Sunday obligation? Reflection for Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 110:1, 2, 3, 4 2. The Psalmist sings about one whom Yahweh will declare as Lord. One to whom He will entrust His authority and through whom he will rule forever. As Christians, we look back on this and other Psalms of David as having pointed to - and been fulfilled by Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Savior, the promised Messiah whom Israel longed to see. He is also the King whom they prayed and longed for. Is Jesus Christ our Lord? Do we submit our life to Him? Did we do so this morning? Reflection for Gospel, Mark 2:18-22 3. Jesus is questioned by the religious leaders as to why He and his disciples did not fast. He responds with the language of weddings, a theme which runs throughout the Sacred Scriptures, the Bible, both Old and New Testament. Jesus is the Bridegroom. His disciples are His Groomsmen, His "best men." The Church, which he came to found, is and will become His Bride. The early fathers saw the Church as having been born from His wounded side on Calvary, as the Blood and Water flowed out for our salvation. The imagery is that of the "New Adam" and as the Rib was taken from the first Adams side in one of the creation accounts in the Book of Genesis, so the Church, the Bride of the New Adam, is taken from the side of Jesus Christ. That Church will be empowered by the Holy Spirit, after Jesus is raised and ascended, taken from their physical presence. Then they will fast. And, they will be sent out to all the Nations to continue His Mission, until He returns for the final wedding Feast. Through our own Baptism, we have now become His disciples, called to bring all men and women back to the Father, through Jesus, and by the power of the Holy Spirit. to bring them into the Church and prepare them for the wedding feast of the Lamb. Are we actively responding to this call? Support Catholic Online by Subscribing to our Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/catholiconl... More on Daily Readings: https://www.catholic.org/bible/daily_... Catholic Online School: Free World Class Catholic Education for Anyone, Anywhere https://www.catholiconline.school/ Catholic Online: World's Catholic Library https://www.catholic.org/ Catholic Online Shopping: World's Catholic Store https://catholiconline.shopping/ Catholic Online Learning Resources: Free Printable Educational Resources for Students, Parents, and Teachers https://catholicresources.education/ We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away. Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of viewers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you. https://ycvf.org/products/donate