19 January 2023
Thursday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
In the readings today, we have two images of Christ. In the first, he is the triumphant high priest, seated on the heavenly throne. By his sacrifice he has taken away the sins of mankind, making us adopted sons and daughters of the Father. In the second reading, he is depicted as a man, pushing himself through huge, surrounding crowds, begging for his favors.
The images are complementary, not contradictory, and they are not only historical; they are contemporary. Crowds today seek healing, happiness, but know not how or where to find them. We live today in the midst of this vast crowd and we have the power to bring the hopes and needs of its members to the triumphant high priest, hidden in the tabernacles of our churches.
At our baptism we were given the continuous grace to call out to Jesus “You are the Son of God,” and in ways, tailored to our particular vocations, to point him out to others. Never before in the history of the world has this attestation been so needed, for never before have the crowds been so numerous, the communication media so accessible and apostolic vocations so varied.
Resolution: If possible, today I shall make a special visit to Jesus, the high priest, housed in a church’s tabernacle, and ask him to have pity on contemporary crowds, burdened, as they are, with so many afflictions. If a visit to the eucharistic Christ is not possible, I shall make that same prayer in a quiet space, alone.