January 19, Wednesday Weekday

You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek. — Psalm 110: 4

Mass Readings: Hebrews 7:1-3,15-17 / Mark 3:1-6 

Hardness of Heart 

The Gospel of Mark barely has begun (today’s reading is the beginning of chapter three) and already the powers that be are implacably hostile to Jesus. At the end of today’s reading, the Pharisees get together with the Herodians to plot His death. Why? All Jesus has done is heal some sick people and speak against burdensome Sabbath rules. 

Clearly He’s a threat in other ways. The crowds love Him. He speaks well, “with authority.” He doesn’t defer to the elders. He talks about something new arriving, a Kingdom of God. This is disturbing enough, but Jesus points to something else: “their hardness of heart” (3:5). There will be no discussion, no compromise, no thought that Jesus might have something valuable to say. This close-mindedness makes Jesus angry. Let’s pray that our hearts be open. 

Prayer: Jesus, I want to hear Your word, even when it upsets me.