Roman Catholic The Word Among Us Daily Mass Reading & Daily Meditation for Tuesday, 27 January 2015

Roman Catholic The Word Among Us Daily Mass Reading & Daily Meditation for Tuesday, 27 January 2015
Meditation - Hebrews 10:1 The Law of Moses is like a shadow of the good things to come. This shadow isn’t the good things themselves, because it cannot free people from sin by the sacrifices that are offered year after year. 2 If there were worshipers who already have their sins washed away and their consciences made clear, there would not be any need to go on offering sacrifices. 3-4 But the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins. It only reminds people of their sins from one year to the next.
5 When Christ came into the world, he said to God,
“Sacrifices and offerings
    are not what you want,
but you have given me
    my body.
6 No, you are not pleased
with animal sacrifices
    and offerings for sin.”
7 Then Christ said,
“And so, my God,
    I have come to do
what you want,
    as the Scriptures say.”
8 The Law teaches that offerings and sacrifices must be made because of sin. But why did Christ mention these things and say that God did not want them? 9 Well, it was to do away with offerings and sacrifices and to replace them. That is what he meant by saying to God, “I have come to do what you want.” 10 So we are made holy because Christ obeyed God and offered himself once for all.
Saint Angela Merici, Virgin
Behold, I come. (Hebrews 10:7)
Have you ever heard the story about a magical house that appears tiny and plain on the outside, but when you step in, you discover a vast, ornate mansion? They’re popular fare in fantasy novels and movies. Today’s first reading contains a simple three-word phrase that may seem just as tiny and plain on the outside but is filled with countless treasures on the inside.
Behold, I come. If we pause for a moment to explore this little “house” with just a bit of imagination, we’ll discover that these words can go a long way toward summarizing the entire gospel!
Behold. In the verses leading up to this first word, we are introduced to a huge map in which everyone’s life plays out. God’s creation, which he deeply loves, has fallen into darkness. We can’t keep God’s law on our own. We can’t even atone for our sin. But watch! Behold! God is about to do something about it. Open the door. Come and see.
I. As we walk through the door, it’s important to understand who owns this house. Who is this “I”? According to the author, it’s Jesus. He is the real author and finisher, the architect and cornerstone of our faith. So this must be God’s house. Why is this an important fact? Because at its core, Christianity is not about what we do. It’s not about the “house” that we build. It’s about what God has already done, is doing now, and will do in the future. It’s about his house, his kingdom.
Come. And what has God done? He came to us, personally, not to condemn us but to save us. God with us, born of a virgin, Immanuel! This is the foundation of our faith. What is he doing right now? He is coming to us through the Holy Spirit. He is inviting us to come farther into his Father’s mansion, which has many rooms (John 14:2). There are rooms of healing, worship, joy, patience, faith, love—the list goes on.
Behold, I come. Let Jesus’ words resound in your heart today. There is so much more to be gleaned from them. There are so many more rooms in this “little house” for you to explore. Let these words become your prayer to him.
“Lord Jesus, thank you for inviting me into your home. Here I come!” Amen!
Psalms 40:2 and pulled me
from a lonely pit
    full of mud and mire.
You let me stand on a rock
    with my feet firm,
4 You bless all of those
    who trust you, Lord,
    and refuse to worship idols
    or follow false gods.
7 And so, I said, “I am here
    to do what is written
    about me in the book,
    where it says,
8 ’I enjoy pleasing you.
    Your Law is in my heart.’”
10 When all your people met,
    I did not keep silent.
I said, “Our Lord is kind.
    He is faithful and caring,
    and he saves us.”
11 You, Lord, never fail
    to have pity on me;
    your love and faithfulness
    always keep me secure.
Mark 3:3 Jesus' Mother and Brothers
31 Jesus' mother and brothers came and stood outside. Then they sent someone with a message for him to come out to them. 32 The crowd that was sitting around Jesus told him, “Your mother and your brothers and sisters[a] are outside and want to see you.”
33 Jesus asked, “Who is my mother and who are my brothers?” 34 Then he looked at the people sitting around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 35 Anyone who obeys God is my brother or sister or mother.”[Footnotes:
3.32 and sisters: These words are not in some manuscripts.] 
Tuesday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
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