Mass Readings of the Day

A reading from the beginning of the Letter to the Hebrews 1:1-6

In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, He spoke to us through the son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe,

who is the refulgence of his glory,

the very imprint of his being,

and who sustains all things by his mighty word.

When he had accomplished purification from sins,

he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

as far superior to the angels

as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

For to which of the angels did God ever say:

“You are my son; this day I have begotten you”?

Or again:

“I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me”?

And again, when he leads* the first-born into the world, he says:

“Let all the angels of God worship him.”

REFLECTION: ' He spoke to us through the son'

I had the honor of attending a funeral mass of the mother of the priest who officiated at her funeral. Since he knew intimately his sermon was from the heart, not from stories told to him by family. He spoke of the many letters she wrote to him and his siblings, all these letters always referring or speaking about Jesus. No matter the occasion for the letter, his mother always included God in her blessings, her congratulations, her encouragements, etc.

Imagine getting a letter from Pope John Paul II, or receiving a letter from St Padre Pio or a letter from St Mother Teresa. I have read some of those letters, and again the powerful timeless message is the same --keep your eyes on Jesus, the Son of God, and don't forget his promise that he came to redeem us. We have reread letters from loved ones, friends. Who would not read letters from God.?

The letter to the Hebrews, is such a letter. It was written AD 67 and declared to be inspired by the Holy Spirit. It is believed to have been written to the Jewish Christians rooted in their Hebrew religious culture and language. It was a letter of encouragement especially during their time of persecution. This was our God speaking to the Hebrews, reminding them that in the past His word came by way of the prophets, but now He comes by way of His Son made man. Jesus. That through the Son who existed before he was man, He speaks to us of all things. This is the Jesus we will meet by way of the Letter to the Hebrews--in the following 4 weeks. This Jesus is totally committed and his sole purpose is to find us, rescue us from sin and bring us back to heaven.

Are we ready to read love letters to us from God?

God Bless