http://www.easterbrooks.com/cgi-bin/Cathcal.cgi?20050120

First Reading: Hebrews 7:25--8:6
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 40:7-8, 8-9, 10, 17
Gospel: Mark 3:7-12

First Reading: Hebrews 7:25--8:6

25

¹ Therefore, he is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them.

26

It was fitting that we should have such a high priest: ² holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, higher than the heavens. ³

27

He has no need, as did the high priests, to offer sacrifice day after day, ⁴ first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did that once for all when he offered himself.

28

For the law appoints men subject to weakness to be high priests, but the word of the oath, which was taken after the law, appoints a son, who has been made perfect forever.

1

⁵ The main point of what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,

2

a minister of the sanctuary ⁶ and of the true tabernacle that the Lord, not man, set up.

3

Now every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus the necessity for this one also to have something to offer.

4

If then he were on earth, he would not be a priest, since there are those who offer gifts according to the law.

5

They worship in a copy and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary, as Moses was warned when he was about to erect the tabernacle. For he says, "See that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain."

6

Now he has obtained so much more excellent a ministry as he is mediator of a better covenant, enacted on better promises.

Table of Contents Hebrews 7 Hebrews 8

Footnotes

¹ [25] To make intercession: the intercession of the exalted Jesus, not the sequel to his completed sacrifice but its eternal presence in heaven; cf Romans 8:34.

² [26] This verse with its list of attributes is reminiscent of Hebrews 7:3 and is perhaps a hymnic counterpart to it, contrasting the exalted Jesus with Melchizedek.

³ [26-28] Jesus is precisely the high priest whom the human race requires, holy and sinless, installed far above humanity (Hebrews 1:26); one having no need to offer sacrifice daily for sins but making a single offering of himself (Hebrews 1:27) once for all. The law could only appoint high priests with human limitations, but the fulfillment of God's oath regarding the priesthood of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4) makes the Son of God the perfect priest forever (Hebrews 7:28).

⁴ [27] Such daily sacrifice is nowhere mentioned in the Mosaic law; only on the Day of Atonement is it prescribed that the high priest must offer sacrifice . . . for his own sins and then for those of the people (Lev 16:11-19). Once for all: this translates the Greek words ephapax/hapax that occur eleven times in Hebrews.

⁵ [1-6] The Christian community has in Jesus the kind of high priest described in Hebrews 7:26-28. In virtue of his ascension Jesus has taken his place at God's right hand in accordance with Psalm 110:1 (Hebrews 8:1), where he presides over the heavenly sanctuary established by God himself (Hebrews 8:2). Like every high priest, he has his offering to make (Hebrews 8:3; cf Hebrews 9:12, 14), but it differs from that of the levitical priesthood in which he had no share (Hebrews 8:4) and which was in any case but a shadowy reflection of the true offering in the heavenly sanctuary (Hebrews 8:5). But Jesus' ministry in the heavenly sanctuary is that of mediator of a superior covenant that accomplishes what it signifies (Hebrews 8:6).

⁶ [2] The sanctuary: the Greek term could also mean "holy things" but bears the meaning "sanctuary" elsewhere in Hebrews (Hebrews 9:8, 12, 24, 25; 10:19; 13:11). The true tabernacle: the heavenly tabernacle that the Lord . . . set up is contrasted with the earthly tabernacle that Moses set up in the desert. True means "real" in contradistinction to a mere "copy and shadow" (Hebrews 8:5); compare the Johannine usage (e.g., John 1:9; 6:32; 15:1). The idea that the earthly sanctuary is a reflection of a heavenly model may be based upon Exodus 25:9, but probably also derives from the Platonic concept of a real world of which our observable world is merely a shadow.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 40:7-8, 8-9, 10, 17

6

How numerous, O LORD, my God, you have made your wondrous deeds! And in your plans for us there is none to equal you. Should I wish to declare or tell them, too many are they to recount.

7

¹ sacrifice and offering you do not want; but ears open to obedience you gave me. Holocausts and sin-offerings you do not require;

8

so I said, "Here I am; your commands for me are written in the scroll.

9

To do your will is my delight; my God, your law is in my heart!"

16

Let those who say "Aha!" know dismay and shame.

Table of Contents Psalms 40

Footnotes

¹ [7-9] Obedience is better than sacrifice (cf 1 Sam 15:22; Isaiah 1:10-20; Hosea 6:6; Amos 5:22-25; Micah 6:6-8; Acts 7:42-43 [quoting Amos 5:25-26]). Hebrews 10:5-9 quotes the somewhat different Greek version and interprets it as Christ's self-oblation.

Gospel: Mark 3:7-12

7

¹ Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples. A large number of people (followed) from Galilee and from Judea.

8

Hearing what he was doing, a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan, and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon.

9

He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him.

10

He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him.

11

² And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him and shout, "You are the Son of God."

12

He warned them sternly not to make him known.

Table of Contents Mark 3

Footnotes

¹ [7-19] This overview of the Galilean ministry manifests the power of Jesus to draw people to himself through his teaching and deeds of power. The crowds of Jews from many regions surround Jesus (Mark 3:7-12). This phenomenon prepares the way for creating a new people of Israel. The choice and mission of the Twelve is the prelude (Mark 3:13-19).

² [11-12] See the note on Mark 1:24-25.