Third Sunday Mass – 19th February 2012
7th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
First Reading: Isaiah 43:18-19, 21-22, 24-25
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 41:2-5, 13-14
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 1:18-22
Gospel: Mark 2:1-12

Points for Reflection Fr. James Hanvey SJ

Opening to The Word of God

All the readings presented to us have much that is worth dwelling with and in. Every time we come to scripture we do not simply come to a text, we come first to a person: the person of Christ and then a community of faith, the Church. Although the texts will vary, speaking in many different voices and genres, there us a inherent unity. They are God’s Word addressed to us. With most texts we study them and analyse them, we can do this with scripture too, but if this all we do, then we have misunderstood them. Beyond all our attention to form and detail, the Word of God speaks to us, invites us into a relationship. It is not one in which we are in control. We do not master the Word of God or the person of Christ, we receive. We must open ourselves and trust; let the Word open a new world to us, a new way of seeing, thinking, being and doing.  When we can do this then we know truly, “the words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.” (Jn.6:63)

Praying the Sunday Texts

The readings come from different sources and periods but they have two uniting themes: 1: The Freedom and the Constancy of God in his desire to heal us and bring us into the fullness of life with him and in his service. 2: Our need of his healing and our freedom to live confidently in its gift.

For our prayer, a few questions might help us. When we ponder the readings, what do we begin to see of God’s own nature, especially as shown by Jesus? What is there about our own past or history that still weighs us down?  What is the ‘new deed’ that God needs to do for me? In the case of the paralysed man, he needed others to bring him to Jesus.  Who is bringing me? Who do I wish to bring? Can I see in these friends an image of the Church or a Christian community? The scribes presented obstacles and objections to Christ’s demonstration of the Father’s love and its power. They let these get in the way of compassion  “ happy the one who considers the poor and the weak….” But Christ is not bound by them – they are the ones who are strangely paralysed. How can this help me?  The psalm, like the reading from 2 Corinthians, celebrates the constancy of God’s grace and love. For Corinthians, that is now absolute and certain in the person of Jesus. We too have that faith and knowledge of him ‘alive in our hearts’ by the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Take time to give thanks for the gift of the Spirit in your life. How would you like to live more completely and joyfully that ‘Yes’ that God has said to you.