Reading 1
Heb 7:25—8:6
Jesus is always able to save those who approach God through him,
since he lives forever to make intercession for them.
It was fitting that we should have such a high priest:
holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners,
higher than the heavens.
He has no need, as did the high priests,
to offer sacrifice day after day,
first for his own sins and then for those of the people;
he did that once for all when he offered himself.
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.
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, a minister of the sanctuary
and of the true tabernacle that the Lord, not man, set up.
Now every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices;
thus the necessity for this one also to have something to offer.
If then he were on earth, he would not be a priest,
since there are those who offer gifts according to the law.
They worship in a copy and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary,
as Moses was warned when he was about to erect the tabernacle.
For God says, “See that you make everything
according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”
Now he has obtained so much more excellent a ministry
as he is mediator of a better covenant,
enacted on better promises.
Ps 40:7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 17
Responsorial PsalmR. (8a and 9a)
Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
Sacrifice or oblation you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Burnt offerings or sin-offerings you sought not;
then said I, “Behold I come.”
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
“In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
To do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!”
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
May all who seek you
exult and be glad in you,
And may those who love your salvation
say ever, “The LORD be glorified.”
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
Gospel
Mk 3:7-12
Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples.
A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea.
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.
He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd,
so that they would not crush him.
He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases
were pressing upon him to touch him.
And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him
and shout, “You are the Son of God.”
He warned them sternly not to make him known.
Meditation: Mark 3:7-12
“A large number of people came to him.” (Mark 3:8)
Jesus has been involved in a whirlwind of activity since his baptism. He has preached repentance in preparation for the coming of God’s kingdom. He has called disciples to follow him. He has spent hours in private prayer. He has cast out demons and healed a man with leprosy, a man who couldn’t walk, and a man with a withered hand. He has beaten back criticism from religious legalists. Everywhere he goes, people are crowding around him, eager to touch him, to hear what he has to say, to experience miracles.
All of these large crowds must have been overwhelming at times. And so in today’s Gospel, Jesus takes the practical step of getting into a boat where he can be heard by many eager people without being trampled by them. But despite the reality of these hordes of people, it’s important to see that Jesus never related to a “crowd.” He always had eyes and ears and a heart for each individual in front of him. He didn’t wave his hand over the crowd to perform a mass healing. He reached out and touched one leper. He forgave one sinner. He answered one question. Jesus was totally focused on whoever was standing before him at the time. No wonder he was tired at the end of the day!
Of course Jesus loves the whole world. He gave his all, everything he was and had, to save us. The sins of all humanity were laid upon him on the cross, and he brought our human nature to the fullness of resurrected life. Nevertheless, he wants to touch each and every person individually. At the same time, each and every person needs to respond to his invitation and embrace his salvation.
He cares about everyone, but he doesn’t operate to save “the masses.” He reaches out to touch and save one person. And one more. And me. And you. It doesn’t matter whether he finds us in the midst of a large group or all by ourselves in a quiet place. Jesus is eagerly awaiting your response.
“Jesus, thank you for knowing me and loving me beyond my wildest imagining. I lift my face to you. Come and touch me to the very core of my being.”
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