First Reading (Hebrews 7,25-8,6).
Reading of the Letter to the Hebrews.
Brothers, Jesus is able to save forever those who, through him, come closer to God. He is always alive to intercede for them. Such is precisely the high priest that befits us: holy, innocent, without blemish, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens. He does not need, like the high priests, to offer sacrifices each day, first for his own sins and then for those of the people. He has already done it once and for all, offering himself. The Law, in effect, constituted high priests subject to weakness, while the word of the oath, which came after the Law, constituted someone who is a Son, perfect forever. 8,The most important theme of our exposition is this: We have a high priest so great that he sat at the right hand of the throne of majesty in heaven. He is a minister of the Sanctuary and of the true Tent, pitched by the Lord, and not by human hands. Every high priest, in fact, is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; therefore, you need to have something to offer. In fact, if Christ were on earth, he would not even be a priest, as there are already those who offer gifts in accordance with the Law. They celebrate a cult that is a copy and shadow of heavenly realities, as was said to Moses, when he was about to carry out the construction of the Tent: “See, do everything according to the model that was shown to you on the mountain”. Now, however, Christ has a superior ministry. For he is the mediator of a much better alliance, based on better promises.
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Gospel (Mark 3,7-12).
Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark.
— Glory to you, Lord.
At that time, Jesus withdrew to the seashore, together with his disciples. Many people from Galilee followed him. And also many people from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, across the Jordan, from the territories of Tire and Sidon, came to Jesus, because they had heard about everything he did. Then Jesus asked his disciples to provide him with a boat, because of the crowd, so that they would not crowd him. In fact, Jesus had healed many people, and everyone who suffered from any illness threw themselves at him to touch him. Seeing Jesus, the evil spirits fell at his feet, shouting: “You are the Son of God!” But Jesus sternly ordered them not to say who he was.
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today, let us meditate on the greatness of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and the wonder of his mission as the perfect High Priest. The Word of God, both in the Letter to the Hebrews and in the Gospel of Mark, reveals to us depths about the divine nature of Jesus and calls us to reflect on our own response to Him. So let’s start with a simple but powerful image to help us understand what is at stake here.
Imagine that you are in a large room, with a solid iron door in front, which represents the separation between humanity and God. Many try, with their own strength, to open this door: some knock, others try to break it down with their own efforts, but nothing works. The room remains closed, and they continue to wait, trapped in the darkness. But then, someone appears. This person is not just another human being trying, but the One who has divine power. He walks to the door and, with a unique key, opens it. He not only opens the door, but also invites us in. This is Jesus, our High Priest, who not only brings us into the presence of God, but guarantees us forgiveness and eternal life. He is the key.
In the letter to the Hebrews, the author tells us in depth about Jesus’ role as High Priest. He tells us that “he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, always living to make intercession for them” (Heb 7:25). Jesus’ priesthood is not temporary or limited like human priests who were imperfect, but He lives forever, and His intercession is full, eternal and effective. He is not just any priest. He is the only one who has the power to save all those who approach God through him.
In ancient times, priests offered repeated animal sacrifices, trying to achieve the purification of the people. But these sacrifices were insufficient, as they could not truly purify the hearts of men. They were shadows of something greater to come. Jesus, in turn, does not just offer a sacrifice, but He Himself is the sacrifice. His death on the cross was the definitive, eternal sacrifice, and through that sacrifice, He purifies us completely. He does not need to offer sacrifices repeatedly, as His sacrifice was perfect and sufficient for the salvation of all.
When we reflect on this truth, we can see that the work of Christ is infinite. He is not limited by time or space, but continues to intercede for us with the Father. He lives forever, and His power of intercession is never exhausted. In our weakness, He never tires of praying for us. He is not only our Savior, but also our advocate before the Father. As we think about this, a question must arise: How are we responding to this call to draw closer to God through Jesus? Are we allowing ourselves to be touched by this constant and loving intercession of Christ?
Now, in the Gospel of Mark, we see a fascinating scene that helps us understand the impact that Jesus’ presence had on those who saw and followed Him. “Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a large crowd followed him…”. People were attracted to Him, not only by His words, but also by the power He demonstrated in healing the sick and casting out demons. They were looking for something more than a simple message. They wanted to be transformed, healed, freed from their suffering. As you can see, Jesus attracted people of all types: sick, afflicted, lost. And everyone came to Him, touching Him, because they believed that their healing was in His presence.
One of the most powerful images we see in this gospel is Jesus’ power over unclean spirits. When they saw Him, they cried out, “You are the Son of God!” Even evil spirits recognized who He was, and could not hide His authority. This makes us reflect: do we, who are so close to Jesus, fully recognize His authority in our lives? He has power over everything – our illnesses, our weaknesses, and even our sins.
But at the same time, there’s something deeper going on here. The crowd was attracted to Jesus, but He didn’t want to be just a mystical figure or a miraculous healer. He was there for something more, something that goes beyond temporal and physical needs. He wanted to touch hearts and transform lives. He knew that the greatest miracle would be the conversion of the human heart, the restoration of souls. Thus, He withdrew to pray, to communicate with the Father, and at the same time, He gave us an example of how we should seek God in our lives. True healing, true transformation, begins in intimacy with God.
However, there is an important issue here. Jesus is the absolute Lord, and His authority must be recognized. The problem is that often, just like demons, we can also be quick to recognize His greatness, but slow to submit ourselves completely to Him. Recognizing the power of Jesus is essential, but living this recognition, giving Him our life, our fears, our weaknesses, this is what really transforms.
Now, brothers and sisters, how can we apply these truths in our daily lives? The first reflection we make is about the centrality of Jesus in our lives. He is our High Priest, He is the key that leads us to the Father. There is nothing we can do alone to achieve salvation – it is only through Jesus that we find true freedom. So, every time we feel lost or far from God, let us remember that Christ is always interceding for us, opening the way to salvation.
Furthermore, we are called to recognize the authority of Jesus in our lives. It is not enough to know who He is; we must submit to Him and allow His presence to transform our hearts. In all areas of our lives – whether in difficulties, in joys, or even in trials – Jesus is the one who can bring true healing. He is the one who, just as He healed the sick in the crowd, wants to heal the deepest wounds of our souls.
Finally, when we look at the example of Jesus, we are called to live in communion with the Father. Jesus withdrew to pray, to seek strength from above. And us? How are we cultivating our relationship with God? Are we dedicating time to prayer, to reflection, to listening to God’s voice in our lives? Prayer is the way by which we are constantly renewed and healed.
Let us, then, put ourselves in prayer, asking God for the grace to recognize His Son as our Savior, our High Priest. May we live under His authority and seek His healing and transformation, so that we can be more like Him every day.
Lord, we thank You for Your immense love. Thank you for being our High Priest, who intercedes for us and leads us to the Father. Give us the grace to recognize Your authority and allow Your presence to transform our lives. May we always seek Your face in prayer and live according to Your teachings. Amen.
Go in peace, brothers and sisters, and may the peace of Christ, our High Priest, always accompany us.
