http://www.easterbrooks.com/cgi-bin/Cathcal.cgi?20050127

First Reading: Hebrews 10:19-25
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
Gospel: Mark 4:21-25

First Reading: Hebrews 10:19-25

Hebrews
Chapter 10

19

¹ Therefore, brothers, since through the blood of Jesus we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary

20

² by the new and living way he opened for us through the veil, that is, his flesh,

21

³ and since we have "a great priest over the house of God,"

22

let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute trust, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience ⁴ and our bodies washed in pure water.

23

Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, for he who made the promise is trustworthy.

24

We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works.

25

We should not stay away from our assembly, ⁵ as is the custom of some, but encourage one another, and this all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Table of Contents Hebrews 10

Footnotes

¹ [19-39] Practical consequences from these reflections on the priesthood and the sacrifice of Christ should make it clear that Christians may now have direct and confident access to God through the person of Jesus (Hebrews 10:19-20), who rules God's house as high priest (Hebrews 10:21). They should approach God with sincerity and faith, in the knowledge that through baptism their sins have been remitted (Hebrews 10:22), reminding themselves of the hope they expressed in Christ at that event (Hebrews 10:23). They are to encourage one another to Christian love and activity (Hebrews 10:24), not refusing, no matter what the reason, to participate in the community's assembly, especially in view of the parousia (Hebrews 10:25; cf 1 Thes 4:13-18). If refusal to participate in the assembly indicates rejection of Christ, no sacrifice exists to obtain forgiveness for so great a sin (Hebrews 10:26); only the dreadful judgment of God remains (Hebrews 10:27). For if violation of the Mosaic law could be punished by death, how much worse will be the punishment of those who have turned their backs on Christ by despising his sacrifice and disregarding the gifts of the holy Spirit (Hebrews 10:28-29). Judgment belongs to the Lord, and he enacts it by his living presence (Hebrews 10:30-31). There was a time when the spirit of their community caused them to welcome and share their sufferings (Hebrews 10:32-34). To revitalize that spirit is to share in the courage of the Old Testament prophets (cf Isaiah 26:20; Habakkuk 2:3-4), the kind of courage that must distinguish the faith of the Christian (Hebrews 10:35-39).

² [20] Through the veil, that is, his flesh: the term flesh is used pejoratively. As the temple veil kept people from entering the Holy of Holies (it was rent at Christ's death, Mark 15:38), so the flesh of Jesus constituted an obstacle to approaching God.

³ [21] The house of God: this refers back to Hebrews 3:6, "we are his house."

⁴ [22] With our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience: as in Hebrews 9:13 (see the note there), the sprinkling motif refers to the Mosaic rite of cleansing from ritual impurity. This could produce only an external purification, whereas sprinkling with the blood of Christ (Hebrews 9:14) cleanses the conscience. Washed in pure water: baptism is elsewhere referred to as a washing; cf 1 Cor 6:11; Eph 5:26.

⁵ [25] Our assembly: the liturgical assembly of the Christian community, probably for the celebration of the Eucharist. The day: this designation for the parousia also occurs in the Pauline letters, e.g., Romans 2:16; 1 Cor 3:13; 1 Thes 5:2.

Responsorial Psalms: Psalms 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

Psalms
Chapter 24

1

¹ A psalm of David. The earth is the LORD'S and all it holds, the world and those who live there.

2

For God founded it on the seas, established it over the rivers.

3

Who may go up the mountain of the LORD? Who can stand in his holy place?

4

² "The clean of hand and pure of heart, who are not devoted to idols, who have not sworn falsely.

5

They will receive blessings from the LORD, and justice from their saving God.

6

Such are the people that love the LORD, that seek the face of the God of Jacob." Selah

Table of Contents Psalms 24

Footnotes

¹ [Psalm 24] The psalm apparently accompanied a ceremony of the entry of God (invisibly enthroned upon the ark), followed by the people, into the temple. The temple commemorated the creation of the world (Psalm 24:1-2). The people had to affirm their fidelity before being admitted into the sanctuary (Psalm 24:3-6; cf Psalm 15). A choir identifies the approaching God and invites the very temple gates to bow down in obeisance (Psalm 24:7-10).

² [4-5] Literally, "the one whose hands are clean." The singular is used for the entire class of worshipers, hence the plural translation.

Gospel: Mark 4:21-25

21

He said to them, "Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand?

22

For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light.

23

Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear."

24

He also told them, "Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you.

25

To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away."

Table of Contents Mark 4

Footnotes