No Compromising

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/012115.cfm) reminds me the importance of not compromising our values.

If you quit ONCE, it becomes a habit. Never quit.

This is a quote from one of the greatest, if not the greatest basketball player – Michael Jordan. It actually makes sense. All it takes to start something is one small step, and doing something even for just once can cause it to become normal, to become a habit. This is why it is important to never compromise your values.

In the gospel, we see Jesus healing a sick man. He knew that people would take it against him If he healed the man. They would witness firsthand him doing that and breaking the Sabbath law, and he could get in trouble for that. However, Jesus did not compromise his values and his mission. No matter what other people may think or do, he just did what he knew God is asking him to do.

Can we say we have the same attitude as Jesus? There are times when it’s easy to compromise. We think that we can, once in a while, and we will just double the effort next time. But we may not know that this is leading us to make compromising a habit, that we are unknowingly changing our standards just because of a seemingly innocent “one compromise.”

May we be reminded and encouraged to be like Jesus, who never compromises his values and is always focused on doing God’s work, no matter what other people may say, think or do.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Thank you for the reminder that you don’t want me to compromise. Help me have the resolve to stay firm, especially when circumstances tempt me otherwise. May I constantly and consistently prove my love and devotion to you with my actions and decisions. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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January 21, 2015

Memorial of Saint Agnes, Virgin and Martyr

Lectionary: 313

Reading 1 Heb 7:1-3, 15-17

Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High,

met Abraham as he returned from his defeat of the kings

and blessed him.

And Abraham apportioned to him a tenth of everything.

His name first means righteous king,

and he was also “king of Salem,” that is, king of peace.

Without father, mother, or ancestry,

without beginning of days or end of life,

thus made to resemble the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.

It is even more obvious if another priest is raised up

after the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become so,

not by a law expressed in a commandment concerning physical descent

but by the power of a life that cannot be destroyed.

For it is testified:

You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 110:1, 2, 3, 4R.

(4b) You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.

The LORD said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand

till I make your enemies your footstool.”

R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.

The scepter of your power the LORD will stretch forth from Zion:

“Rule in the midst of your enemies.”

R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.

“Yours is princely power in the day of your birth, in holy splendor;

before the daystar, like the dew, I have begotten you.”

R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.

The LORD has sworn, and he will not repent:

“You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”

R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.

Alleluia See Mt 4:23

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom

and cured every disease among the people.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mk 3:1-6

Jesus entered the synagogue.

There was a man there who had a withered hand.

They watched Jesus closely

to see if he would cure him on the sabbath

so that they might accuse him.

He said to the man with the withered hand,

“Come up here before us.”

Then he said to the Pharisees,

“Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil,

to save life rather than to destroy it?”

But they remained silent.

Looking around at them with anger

and grieved at their hardness of heart,

Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.”

He stretched it out and his hand was restored.

The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel

with the Herodians against him to put him to death.