DAILY GOSPEL Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. John 6:68 Saturday, 17 January 2015 Saturday of the First week in Ordinary Time Saint(s) of the day : St. Anthony the Abbot, Patriarch of Monks (251-356) See commentary below or click here Saint Ambrose : Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do Letter to the Hebrews 4:12-16. Indeed the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. No creature is concealed from him, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help. Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 2:13-17. Jesus went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them. As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. He said to him, Follow me. And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners? Jesus heard this and said to them (that), Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners. Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB Commentary of the day : Saint Ambrose (c.340-397), Bishop of Milan and Doctor of the Church Commentary on Saint Lukes Gospel, 5, 23.27 (SC 45, p.191f. rev.) Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do The apostle Paul said: “Take off the old self with its practices and put on the new self” (Col 3,9-10)... This was the work Christ accomplished when he called Levi; he refashioned him into a new man. Similarly, it is as a new person that the former publican prepares a banquet for Christ since Christ takes pleasure in him and he himself merits to have a share in happiness with Christ... He followed him now, happy, lighthearted and overflowing with joy. “I have the aspect of a publican no more,” he said, “I dont carry around the old Levi any longer; I put off Levi when I put on Christ. I flee from my earlier life; my Lord Jesus, you alone, who heal my wounds, I desire to follow. Who shall separate me from the love of God within you? tribulation? anguish? hunger? (Rom 8,35). I am bound to you by faith as by nails, I am held fast by the worthy bonds of love. All your commandments will be like a cautery that I will apply firmly to my wound; the remedy stings but it takes away the ulcerous infection. Lord Jesus, with your powerful sword cut away the corruption of my sins: come quickly, lance my hidden and varied passions. Purge away all infection in the new bath. “Listen to me, you people who are fixed to the earth, you whose thoughts are intoxicated by your sins. I, Levi, was also wounded by similar passions. But I found a doctor who dwells in heaven and pours out his remedies on earth. He alone can cure my wounds since he himself has none. He alone can remove the hearts pain and the souls lethargy, for he knows everything that lies hidden.”
Posted on: Sat, 17 Jan 2015 01:11:59 +0000
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