Reading 1 Heb 8:6-13

Brothers and sisters:
Now our high priest has obtained so much more excellent a ministry
as he is mediator of a better covenant,
enacted on better promises.

For if that first covenant had been faultless,
no place would have been sought for a second one.
But he finds fault with them and says:
Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord,
when I will conclude a new covenant with the house of
Israel and the house of Judah.
It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers
the day I took them by the hand to lead
them forth from the land of Egypt;
for they did not stand by my covenant
and I ignored them, says the Lord.
But this is the covenant I will establish with the house of Israel
after those days, says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their minds
and I will write them upon their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
And they shall not teach, each one his fellow citizen and kin, saying,
"Know the Lord,"
for all shall know me, from least to greatest.
For I will forgive their evildoing
and remember their sins no more.

When he speaks of a "new" covenant,
he declares the first one obsolete.
And what has become obsolete
and has grown old is close to disappearing.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 85:8 and 10, 11-12, 13-14

R. (11a) Kindness and truth shall meet.
Show us, O LORD, your mercy,
and grant us your salvation.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.
R. Kindness and truth shall meet.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
R. Kindness and truth shall meet.
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and salvation, along the way of his steps.
R. Kindness and truth shall meet.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ,
and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mk 3:13-19

Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted
and they came to him.
He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles,
that they might be with him
and he might send them forth to preach
and to have authority to drive out demons:
He appointed the Twelve:
Simon, whom he named Peter;
James, son of Zebedee,
and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges,
that is, sons of thunder;
Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew,
Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus;
Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean,
and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.

From: Hebrews 8:6-13

Christ Is High Priest of a New Covenant, Which Replaces the Old (Continuation)

[6] But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry which is as much more excellent
than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better
promises. [7] For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been
no occasion for a second.

[8] For he finds fault with them when he says: “The days will come, says the Lord,
when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house
of Judah; [9] not like the covenant I made with their fathers on the day when I took
them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; for they did not continue
in my covenant, and so I paid no heed to them, says the Lord. [10] This is the co-
venant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I
will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their
God, and they shall be my people. [11] And they shall not teach every one his
fellow or every one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know me, from
the least of them to the greatest. [12] For I will be merciful toward their iniquities,
and I will remember their sins no more.”

[13] In speaking of a new covenant he treats the first as obsolete. And what is be-
coming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

3-6. To compare the earthly and heavenly tabernacles, the author resorts to ana-
logy and metaphor, which is all that he can do. Bearing this in mind, one should
not interpret the words of this passage as meaning that Jesus Christ consumma-
ted his sacrifice only in heaven, for the sacrifice of Calvary happened only once
and was complete in itself. What this passage is saying is that, in heaven,
Christ, the eternal Priest, continuously presents to the Father the fruits of the
Cross. In the New Covenant there is only one sacrifice—that of Jesus Christ on
Calvary; this single sacrifice is renewed in an unbloody manner every day in the
sacrifice of the Mass; there Jesus Christ the only Priest of the New Law — immo-
lates and offers, by means of priests who are his ministers, the same victim
(body and blood) which was immolated in a bloody manner once and for all on
the Cross.

7-12. The comparison between the two covenants, the Old made with Moses and
written on stone, and the New, engraved on the minds and hearts of the faithful (cf.
2 Cor 3:3; Heb 10:16, 17) is developed with the help of a quotation from Jeremiah
(Jer 31:31-34), where the prophet announces the spiritual alliance of Yahweh with
his people. Jeremiah’s words, quoted from the Greek translation (very close to the
original Hebrew), refer directly to the restoration of the Jews after the Exile. Now
that the chosen people have been purified by suffering they are fit to be truly the
people of God: “I will be their God, and they shall be my people”; this promise of
intimate friendship is the core of the prophecy. That is what it means when it says
the Law will be written on the minds and hearts of all, and all — even the least —
shall know God. It may be that Jeremiah sensed the messianic restora- tion that
lay beyond the restoration of the chosen people on its return from exile; certainly
we can see that this oracle finds its complete fulfillment only with the New Cove-
nant: the return from Babylon was merely an additional signal/symbol of the per-
fect Covenant which Christ would establish. For it is in that New Covenant that
God truly forgives sins and remembers them no more.

The Old Covenant is said not to have been faultless, or sinless. This does not
mean it was bad; rather; as St Thomas explains, it was powerless to atone for
sins, it did not provide people with the grace to avoid committing sins, it simply
showed people how to recognize sins, those who lived under the Old Law conti-
nued to be subject to sin (cf. “Commentary on Heb.”, 7, 2).

*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

From: Mark 3:13-19

Jesus Chooses Twelve Apostles

[13] And He (Jesus) went up into the hills, and called to Him those whom He de-
sired; and they came to Him. [14] And He appointed twelve, to be with Him, and
to be sent out to preach [15] and have authority to cast out demons; [16] Simon
whom He surnamed Peter; [17] James the son of Zebedee and John the brother
of James, whom He surnamed Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder; [18] Andrew,
and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of
Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean, [19] and Judas Iscariot,
who betrayed Him.

*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

13. “He called to Him those whom He desired”: God wants to show us that cal-
ling, vocation, is an initiative of God. This is particularly true in the case of the
Apostles, which is why Jesus could tell them, later on, that “you did not choose
Me, but I chose you” (Jn 15:16). Those who will have power and authority in the
Church will not obtain this because first they offer their services and then Jesus
accepts their offering: on the contrary, “not through their own initiative and prepa-
ration, but rather by virtue of divine grace, would they be called to the apostolate”
(St. Bede, “In Marci Evangelium Expositio, in loc.”).

14-19. The Twelve chosen by Jesus (cf. 3:14) receive a specific vocation to be
“people sent out”, which is what the word “apostles” means. Jesus chooses
them for a mission which He will give them later (6:6-13) and to enable them to
perform this mission He gives them part of His power. The fact that He chooses
“twelve” is very significant. This is the same number as the twelve Patriarchs of
Israel, and the Apostles represent the new people of God, the Church founded
by Christ. Jesus sought in this way to emphasize the continuity that exists be-
tween the Old and New Testaments. The Twelve are the pillars on which Christ
builds His Church (cf. Gal 2:9); their mission to make disciples of the Lord (to
teach) all nations, sanctifying and governing the believers (Mt 28:16-20; Mk 16:
15; Lk 24:45-48; Jn 20:21-23).

14. The Second Vatican Council sees in this text the establishment of the Col-
lege of the Apostles: “The Lord Jesus, having prayed at length to the Father,
called to Himself those whom He willed and appointed twelve to be with Him,
whom He might send to preach the Kingdom of God (cf. Mk 3:13-19; Mt 10:1-42).
These apostles (cf. Lk 6:13) He constituted in the form of a college or permanent
assembly, at the head of which He placed Peter, chosen from amongst them”
(cf. Jn 21: 15-17) [...]. “That divine mission, which was committed by Christ to
the apostles, is destined to last until the end of the world (cf. Mt 28:20), since
the Gospel, which they were charged to hand on, is, for the Church, the principle
of all its life for all time. For that very reason the apostles were careful to appoint
successors in their hierarchically constituted society.” (”Lumen Gentium”, 19-20).
Therefore, the Pope and the bishops, who succeed to the College of the Twelve,
are also called by our Lord to be always with Jesus and to preach the Gospel,
aided by priests.

Life in union with Christ and apostolic zeal must be very closely linked together;
in other words, effectiveness in apostolate always depends on union with our
Lord, on continuous prayer and on sacramental life: “Apostolic zeal is a divine
craziness I want you to have. Its symptoms are: hunger to know the Master;
constant concern for souls; perseverance that nothing can shake” (St. J. Escri-
va, “The Way”, 934).

16. At this point, before the word “Simon” the sentence “He formed the group of
the twelve” occurs in many manuscripts (it is similar to the phrase “He appoin-
ted twelve” in v. 14) but it is not included in the New Vulgate. The repetition of
the same expression and the article in “the twelve” show the importance of the
establishment of the Apostolic College.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

Scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible by Darton, Longman & Todd

Readings at Mass

Liturgical Colour: Green.

First reading	Hebrews 8:6-13 ©

We have seen that Christ has been given a ministry of a far higher order, and to the same degree it is a better covenant of which he is the mediator, founded on better promises. If that first covenant had been without a fault, there would have been no need for a second one to replace it. And in fact God does find fault with them; he says:

See, the days are coming – it is the Lord who speaks –

when I will establish a new covenant

with the House of Israel and the House of Judah,

but not a covenant like the one I made with their ancestors

on the day I took them by the hand

to bring them out of the land of Egypt.

They abandoned that covenant of mine,

and so I on my side deserted them. It is the Lord who speaks.

No, this is the covenant I will make

with the House of Israel

when those days arrive – it is the Lord who speaks.

I will put my laws into their minds

and write them on their hearts.

Then I will be their God

and they shall be my people.

There will be no further need for neighbour to try to teach neighbour,

or brother to say to brother,

‘Learn to know the Lord.’

No, they will all know me,

the least no less than the greatest,

since I will forgive their iniquities

and never call their sins to mind.

By speaking of a new covenant, he implies that the first one is already old. Now anything old only gets more antiquated until in the end it disappears.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 84(85):8,10-14 ©

Mercy and faithfulness have met.

Let us see, O Lord, your mercy

and give us your saving help.

His help is near for those who fear him

and his glory will dwell in our land.

Mercy and faithfulness have met.

Mercy and faithfulness have met;

justice and peace have embraced.

Faithfulness shall spring from the earth

and justice look down from heaven.

Mercy and faithfulness have met.

The Lord will make us prosper

and our earth shall yield its fruit.

Justice shall march before him

and peace shall follow his steps.

Mercy and faithfulness have met.

Gospel Acclamation	cf.2Th2:14

Alleluia, alleluia!

Through the Good News God called us

to share the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Alleluia!

Or	2Co5:19

Alleluia, alleluia!

God in Christ was reconciling the world to himself,

and he has entrusted to us the news that they are reconciled.

Alleluia!

Gospel	Mark 3:13-19 ©

Jesus went up into the hills and summoned those he wanted. So they came to him and he appointed twelve; they were to be his companions and to be sent out to preach, with power to cast out devils. And so he appointed the Twelve: Simon to whom he gave the name Peter, James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom he gave the name Boanerges or ‘Sons of Thunder’; then Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, the man who was to betray him.

Jesus, High Priest

We thank you, God our Father, for those who have responded to your call to priestly ministry.

Accept this prayer we offer on their behalf: Fill your priests with the sure knowledge of your love.

Open their hearts to the power and consolation of the Holy Spirit.

Lead them to new depths of union with your Son.

Increase in them profound faith in the Sacraments they celebrate as they nourish, strengthen and heal us.

Lord Jesus Christ, grant that these, your priests, may inspire us to strive for holiness by the power of their example, as men of prayer who ponder your word and follow your will.

O Mary, Mother of Christ and our mother, guard with your maternal care these chosen ones, so dear to the Heart of your Son.

Intercede for our priests, that offering the Sacrifice of your Son, they may be conformed more each day to the image of your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Saint John Vianney, universal patron of priests, pray for us and our priests

This icon shows Jesus Christ, our eternal high priest.

The gold pelican over His heart represents self-sacrifice.

The border contains an altar and grapevines, representing the Mass, and icons of Melchizedek and St. Jean-Baptiste Vianney.

Melchizedek: king of righteousness (left icon) was priest and king of Jerusalem. He blessed Abraham and has been considered an ideal priest-king.

St. Jean-Baptiste Vianney is the patron saint of parish priests.

Pray a Rosary each day for our nation.

1. Sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

2. The Apostles Creed: I BELIEVE in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from there He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

3. The Lord's Prayer: OUR Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

4. (3) Hail Mary: HAIL Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and in the hour of our death. Amen. (Three times)

5. Glory Be: GLORY be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

6. Fatima Prayer: Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy.

Announce each mystery, then say 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, 1 Glory Be and 1 Fatima prayer. Repeat the process with each mystery.

End with the Hail Holy Queen:
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve! To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears! Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus!

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Final step -- The Sign of the Cross

The Mysteries of the Rosary By tradition, Catholics meditate on these Mysteries during prayers of the Rosary. The biblical references follow each of the Mysteries below.

The Sorrowful Mysteries

(Tuesdays and Fridays)

1. The Agony in the Garden (Matthew 26:36-46, Luke 22:39-46) [Spiritual fruit - God's will be done]
2. The Scourging at the Pillar (Matthew 27:26, Mark 15:15, John 19:1) [Spiritual fruit - Mortification of the senses]
3. The Crowning with Thorns (Matthew 27:27-30, Mark 15:16-20, John 19:2) [Spiritual fruit - Reign of Christ in our heart]
4. The Carrying of the Cross (Matthew 27:31-32, Mark 15:21, Luke 23:26-32, John 19:17) [Spiritual fruit - Patient bearing of trials]
5. The Crucifixion (Matthew 27:33-56, Mark 15:22-39, Luke 23:33-49, John 19:17-37) [Spiritual fruit - Pardoning of Injuries]

Feast of
the Holy Name of Jesus

Luke 2:21 "...Et vocatum est Nomen eius IESUS"
("And His Name was called JESUS")

Psalm 90:14 "Because he hoped in me I will deliver him:
I will protect him because he hath known My Name."

Zacharias 10:12 "I will strengthen them in the Lord,
and they shall walk in His Name, saith the Lord."

Apocalypse 3:8 "I know thy works. Behold, I have given before thee a door opened, which no man can shut: because thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied My Name."

Apocalypse 15:4 "Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and magnify Thy Name?..."

Blessed be the most holy Name of Jesus without end!

January Devotion: The Holy Name of Jesus

The month of January is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus. This feast is also celebrated on January 3. Here is an explanation of the devotion.

Since the 16th century Catholic piety has associated entire months to special devotions. The devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus has been traditionally associated with the month of January, due to its celebration on January 3. The name Jesus was given to the Holy Child at God's command (Luke 1:31). The Holy Name is all-powerful because of the Person who bears it; we honor it because of the command of Christ, that we should pray in His Name and because it reminds us of all the blessings we receive through our Holy Redeemer. Hence St. Paul was able to write to the Philippians: ". . . at the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth" (Phil. 2:10). By means of this devotion we also make amends for improper use of the Holy Name.

Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954

Prayer/Hymn in Honor of the Most Holy Name of Jesus - Iesu, Dulcis Memoria

Iesu, Dulcis Memoria is a celebrated 12th century hymn attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153), Doctor Mellifluus. The entire hymn has some 42 to 53 stanzas depending upon the manuscript. Parts of this hymn were used for the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, which was formerly celebrated on the Sunday between the Circumcision and Epiphany, or failing such a Sunday, on January 2. The part below was used at Vespers. In the liturgical revisions of Vatican II, the feast was deleted, though a votive Mass to the Holy Name of Jesus had been retained for devotional use. With the release of the revised Roman Missal in March 2002, the feast was restored as an optional memorial on January 3.

Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills the breast!
Yet sweeter far Thy face to see
And in Thy presence rest.

No voice can sing, no heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find,
A sweeter sound than Jesus' name,
The Savior of mankind.

O hope of every contrite heart!
0 joy of all the meek!
To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!

But what to those who find? Ah! this
Nor tongue nor pen can show
The love of Jesus, what it is,
None but His loved ones know.

Jesus! our only hope be Thou,
As Thou our prize shalt be;
In Thee be all our glory now,
And through eternity. Amen.

---Roman Breviary

Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954

O Divine Jesus, Thou hast promised that anything we ask of the Eternal Father in Thy name shall be granted.

O Eternal Father. In the name of Jesus, for the love of Jesus, in fulfillment of this promise, and because Jesus has said it, grant us our petitions for the sake of Jesus, Thy Divine Son. Amen.

Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Phil:2:10-11

The Most Holy Name
The Power of Jesus’ Name
What does IHS stand for? The meaning of the Holy Name of Jesus [Catholic Caucus]
Litany Of The Holy Name of Jesus
Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus
Jesus, The Name above all Names
Devotion to the Holy Name (of Jesus) [Catholic Caucus]
Lessons In Iconography : The Chi Rho - Christ
St. Francis de Sales on the Most Holy Name of Jesus (Excerpt from a Sermon) (Catholic Caucus)
St. Francis de Sales on the Most Holy Name of Jesus (Catholic/Orthodox Caucus)

St. Bernard on the Most Holy Name of Jesus [Ecumenical]
Saving the day in His Holy Name: St. Genevieve gets a reprieve [Catholic Caucus]
The Holy Name of Jesus
Holy Name of Jesus [San Bernadino of Siena] Ecumenical
The Holy Name of Jesus
Devotion to the Holy Name [of Jesus]
The Name of Jesus: Its Power in Our Lives
The Holy Name of Jesus
Devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus
The Holy Name of Jesus

Philippians 2
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Daily Gospel Commentary

Friday of the Second week in Ordinary Time

Commentary of the day
Saint Bernard (1091-1153), Cistercian monk and doctor of the Church
Homilies on the Song of Songs, no. 84, 1.5

“He called those whom he wanted... so that they would be with him”

"Nightlong in my little bed I sought him whom my soul loves” (Sg 3:1). It is a great good to seek God; in my opinion the soul knows no greater blessing. It is the first of its gifts and the final stage in its progress. It is inferior to none, and it yields place to none. What could be superior to it, when nothing has a higher place? What could claim a higher place, when it is the consummation of all things? What virtue can be attributed to anyone who does not seek God? What boundary can be set for anyone who does seek him? The psalmist says: “Seek his face always” (Ps 104:4). Nor, I think, will a soul cease to seek him even when it has found him.

It is not with steps of the feet that God is sought but with the heart's desire; and when the soul happily finds him its desire is not quenched but kinkled. Does the consummation of joy bring about the consuming of desire? Rather it is oil poured upon the flames. So it is. Joy will be fulfilled (Ps 15:11) but there will be no end to desire, and therefore no end to the search...

That every soul among you who is seeking God may know that she has been forestalled, and that she was found before she was sought... This is what you are urged to do by the goodness of him who anticipates you, who sought him, and loved you before you loved him (1Jn 4:10). You would not seek him or love him unless you had first been sought and loved. Not only in one blessing have you been forestalled but in two, being loved as well as being sought. For the love is the reason of the search, and the search is the fruit of the love, and its certain proof. You are loved so that you may not suppose you are sought to be punished. You are sought so that you may not complain you are loved in vain.

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January 20, 2017

Friday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 Heb 8:6-13

Responsorial Psalm Ps 85:8 and 10, 11-12, 13-14

Alleluia

Gospel Mk 3:13-19

Readings at Mass

Feast of
the Holy Name of Jesus

January 2017

Pope's Intentions

Universal: That those from diverse religious traditions and all people of good will may work together for peace.

Evangelization: That in this year dedicated to consecrated life, religious men and women may rediscover the joy of following Christ and strive to serve the poor with zeal.

Friday of the Second week in Ordinary Time