Thursday of week 2 in Ordinary Time
Hebrews 7:25-8:6
The power of Jesus to save is utterly certain, since he is living for ever to intercede for all who come to God through him. To suit us, the ideal high priest would have to be holy, innocent and uncontaminated, beyond the influence of sinners, and raised up above the heavens; one who would not need to offer sacrifices every day, as the other high priests do for their own sins and then for those of the people, because he has done this once and for all by offering himself. The Law appoints high priests who are men subject to weakness; but the promise on oath, which came after the Law, appointed the Son who is made perfect for ever.
The great point of all that we have said is that we have a high priest of exactly this kind. He has his place at the right of the throne of divine Majesty in the heavens, and he is the minister of the sanctuary and of the true Tent of Meeting which the Lord, and not any man, set up. It is the duty of every high priest to offer gifts and sacrifices, and so this one too must have something to offer. In fact, if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are others who make the offerings laid down by the Law and these only maintain the service of a model or a reflection of the heavenly realities. For Moses, when he had the Tent to build, was warned by God who said: See that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.
We have seen that he has been given a ministry of a far higher order, and to the same degree it is a better covenant of which he is the mediator, founded on better promises.
Psalm 39(40):7-10,17 Here I am, Lord! I come to do your will.
Mark 3:7-12
Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lakeside, and great crowds from Galilee followed him. From Judaea, Jerusalem, Idumaea, Transjordania and the region of Tyre and Sidon, great numbers who had heard of all he was doing came to him. And he asked his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, to keep him from being crushed. For he had cured so many that all who were afflicted in any way were crowding forward to touch him. And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw him, would fall down before him and shout, ‘You are the Son of God!’ But he warned them strongly not to make him known.
Reflection:
The words from the first reading, “Because he has done this once and for all by offering himself,” sum up the whole of Jesus’ mission: a self-giving that was final, complete, and transformative; an eternal singular act of love that continues to ripple through time, drawing us into the embrace of God.
Consider Maximilian Kolbe, who was imprisoned in Auschwitz. When a fellow prisoner, Franciszek Gajowniczek (Frahn-CHEE-shek Guy-ohv-NEE-chek), was condemned to death, Kolbe stepped forward, offering his life in place of the man with a family. Despite Kolbe suffering unimaginable suffering, he remained a beacon of hope, leading prayers and singing hymns. After two weeks, he was executed by lethal injection, becoming a martyr of love.
Kolbe’s self-offering mirrors Christ’s sacrifice: it was done freely, out of love, and for the life of another. His act demonstrates how divine love continues to inspire and manifest in human hearts.
Self-giving requires us to choose against our own nature as human beings, as self-interest is a powerful force, motivated by a complex interplay of factors; both conscious and unconscious, personal experiences, societal norms, and evolutionary instincts: At its core, self-interest is tied to the basic human drive for survival and security. The human brain is wired to seek pleasure and avoid discomfort or suffering. All of us have a preference for personal happiness over suffering. We may come from competitive societies, in which self-interest is encouraged through individualism, ambition, and success. Social norms reward our personal achievement reinforcing self-serving behaviors. Then there is the fear of scarcity. When resources are perceived as limited, we act to protect our share, driven by a fear of not having enough. The desire to protect, enhance, or affirm one’s self-image can drive self-interest. People may prioritize their own goals and needs to validate their sense of worth and individuality. Past experiences of rejection, loss, or scarcity can create a mindset of self-preservation, where individuals feel the need to protect themselves at all costs.
While self-interest is a natural and often necessary part of human behavior, it can coexist with daily choices to think and act for others. We are also motivated by empathy, community, and a sense of shared purpose, particularly when we recognize our interconnectedness. By addressing our fears and cultivating virtues like gratitude and compassion, we can embrace self-giving.
Like Jesus and Kolbe, we too are called to offer ourselves in our own time, choosing self-gift over self-interest, even in ordinary acts; making the self-giving of Jesus visible in the world.