First reading Hebrews 7:1-3,15-17
You are a priest of the order of Melchizedek, for ever
You remember that Melchizedek, king of Salem, a priest of God Most High, went to meet Abraham who was on his way back after defeating the kings, and blessed him; and also that it was to him that Abraham gave a tenth of all that he had. By the interpretation of his name, he is, first, ‘king of righteousness’ and also king of Salem, that is, ‘king of peace’; he has no father, mother or ancestry, and his life has no beginning or ending; he is like the Son of God. He remains a priest for ever.
This becomes even more clearly evident when there appears a second Melchizedek, who is a priest not by virtue of a law about physical descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. For it was about him that the prophecy was made: You are a priest of the order of Melchizedek, and for ever.
Responsorial Psalm 109(110):1-4
You are a priest for ever, a priest like Melchizedek of old.
The Lord’s revelation to my Master:
‘Sit on my right:
your foes I will put beneath your feet.’
The Lord will wield from Zion
your sceptre of power:
rule in the midst of all your foes.
A prince from the day of your birth
on the holy mountains;
from the womb before the dawn I begot you.
The Lord has sworn an oath he will not change.
‘You are a priest for ever,
a priest like Melchizedek of old.’
Gospel Mark 3:1-6
Is it against the law on the sabbath day to save life?
Jesus went into a synagogue, and there was a man there who had a withered hand. And they were watching him to see if he would cure him on the sabbath day, hoping for something to use against him. He said to the man with the withered hand, ‘Stand up out in the middle!’ Then he said to them, ‘Is it against the law on the sabbath day to do good, or to do evil; to save life, or to kill?’ But they said nothing. Then, grieved to find them so obstinate, he looked angrily round at them, and said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He stretched it out and his hand was better. The Pharisees went out and at once began to plot with the Herodians against him, discussing how to destroy him.
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Going to the core of our human identity
“Who are you?”- The Jewish leaders posed this fundamental question to John the Baptist. Have you ever asked yourself this same question? If you ever ask this key question, “Who am I?”, we will know that it is not easy to answer because it demands knowing and accepting ourselves as we are and going beyond the level of saying “I am a teacher”, “I am an engineer”. In the gospel, John the Baptist knew who he was by His relationship with Jesus. He was neither the Christ, Elijah nor the Prophet. John the Baptist knew that he was just a voice that cried out in the desert, preparing the way for the Lord to come and was happy to be the witness pointing others to Jesus.
As we begin this new day in this new year, let us allow our friendship with Jesus to shape and form our identity. When we grow to become like Christ, we will truly become who we are.
Reflective question:
Who am I?
Who am I?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Sandra Seow FMVD
