Saturday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Title

Sacrifice

Outline

Sacrifice was a historical topic in the churches I grew up in

That is, it was connected to the Hebrew sacrificial system and culminated in the sacrifice of Christ, after which it ceased.

In my teen years I became aware that Catholics still embraced sacrifice, but of course I did not understand what they actually did, simply accepting that it was wrong

Yet in university I realized that so did evangelical Protestants. Missionaries sometimes sacrificed their lives trying to reach out to unreached peoples, and other missionaries sacrificed their children either by leaving them behind in their “home” country or by sending them to missionary boarding schools.

I would also become aware of the universality of sacrifice in various religions and in national religions in which one sacrificed their life for their country.

And finally I became aware that sacrifice was a continuing biblical reality.

Our texts deal with two aspects of this

Hebrews speaks of two types of sacrifices

The first is “a sacrifice of praise” that is “the fruit of lips that confess his name.” This is confessional sacrifice or the sacrifice of worship. It costs us our time, our energy, and our hearts, for such praise must come from the heart. And some of the time and energy is spent gathering. I can worship as I walk in the woods or travel (especially on foot), as St Francis and St Dominic did, but that is keeping the praise constant, for even they, when they could, stopped and gathered with whomever was available at the set prayer times.

The second is to “do good and to share what you have.” We could call this the sacrifice of charity, whether it is directed towards believers or unbelievers. In this case we are sacrificing time, and energy, and usually material goods of some type. It is only a sacrifice if done with some consciousness of its being done “for the love of God.” We can pray that God will give us such opportunities.

All of this is based on the great sacrifice, God’s sacrifice for us, which Hebrews indicates in saying, “the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep by the blood of the eternal covenant, Jesus our Lord.”

Jesus lives this lifestyle

He is concerned that his disciples are giving too much - you exhaust yourself if you give more than you have - and invites them to rest and take in, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” Remember, Jesus was there, so they had a superb retreat leader, even if not formally called a retreat.

The people see them leave, they see the direction of the boat, and they get there first. Jesus could send them away, but he chooses the will of the Father, the way of sacrifice: “his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.” He teaches them; he sacrifices his rest; the disciples were free to stay, of course, but also free to wander off and rest - he did not make the choice for them.

Sisters, the Christian life is based on sacrifice

Leaving the history of Israel out right now, notice it is based on Jesus’ sacrificial coming, serving, and dying for us. Everything we do relates back to that.

[We could also add the example of Our Lady - did not she have to let go of her dreams of normal domestic life with Joseph when she said “Fiat”? And how many more times did she sacrifice as life went on?]

From this follows a trail of sacrificial service by those we call saints and/or martyrs - and notice how many of the non-martyr saints died relatively young, including St. Dominic at age 49 (St Francis at ca age 45), although those who sacrifice was prayer often lived longer (St Benedict 68 - a good old age in his day).

And finally there is us. There are many opportunities for the sacrifice of our lips as well as the sacrifice of giving to others. Sometimes it simply means doing what we do with consciousness of doing it for the love of God, whether it be getting up early for worship or doing some deed for others. For instance, Bp Barron quotes one of his teachers who said, “The only proper response to ‘Father, do you have time to hear a confession’ is ‘Yes.’” And then, of course, you have to do it gladly, out of love of God. (That is also a big reason I wear clericals when I travel and carry my anointing kit with me.)

The real issues for us are: (1) always keeping the sacrifice of Jesus in mind, (2) asking God for opportunities, (3) consciously doing worship or charity for the love of God, and (4) asking God to help us be thankful afterwards and then to forget what we do.

Sacrifice is the center of our lives and worship. Let us do our priestly duty and always be people of sacrifice out of love of God.

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 2-4-2023: Saturday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

FIRST READING

Hebrews 13:15–17, 20–21

15 Through him [then] let us continually offer God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have; God is pleased by sacrifices of that kind.

17 Obey your leaders and defer to them, for they keep watch over you and will have to give an account, that they may fulfill their task with joy and not with sorrow, for that would be of no advantage to you.

20 May the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep by the blood of the eternal covenant, Jesus our Lord, 21 furnish you with all that is good, that you may do his will. May he carry out in you what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever [and ever]. Amen.

Catholic Daily Readings 2-4-2023: Saturday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

RESPONSE

Psalm 23:1

1 A psalm of David.

The LORD is my shepherd;

there is nothing I lack.

PSALM

Psalm 23:1–6

1 A psalm of David.

The LORD is my shepherd;

there is nothing I lack.

2 In green pastures he makes me lie down;

to still waters he leads me;

3 he restores my soul.

He guides me along right paths

for the sake of his name.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

your rod and your staff comfort me.

5 You set a table before me

in front of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

6 Indeed, goodness and mercy will pursue me

all the days of my life;

I will dwell in the house of the LORD

for endless days.

Catholic Daily Readings 2-4-2023: Saturday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

John 10:27

27 My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

GOSPEL

Mark 6:30–34

30 The apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. 31 He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. 32 So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. 33 People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them.

34 When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 2-4-2023: Saturday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2023 | ORDINARY TIME

SATURDAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

YEAR 1 | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading Hebrews 13:15–17, 20–21

Response Psalm 23:1

Psalm Psalm 23:1–6

Gospel Acclamation John 10:27

Gospel Mark 6:30–34

GREEN or BLUE for BVM