Letter to Hebrews is nothing ordinary

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today mark the beginning of Ordinary Time. Like the texts themselves, there is nothing ordinary about these times. The meaning of Ordinary comes from “ordinal” or the numbers which we use to count sequence (1,2,3,etc). We begin to count the weeks in the Liturgical Calendar today. The Letter to the Hebrews is one of the sacred texts which presents much underlying wonder to those who explore the author, audience and times of this work. The presentation of the great change which has come to the world through the action of God to send Son, the exact imprint of the Father, in the last days as the Word, which is superior to Prophets and angels, can be seen as extremely targeted to discouraged believers familiar with both Jewish tradition and Greek philosophy. It is very attractive to the original audience and it remains a powerful text for modern Christians. The Church will begin a lengthy examination of this Book today. The Gospel from Mark begins the ministry of Jesus in Galilee with evidence of the attractiveness of His Presence to Simon and Andrew, James and John who give up their livelihood and follow Him. This attraction which meets us in our need and searching is praised by the psalmist as people find in relationship with God the true satisfaction of our desires often misdirected to search in worldly pursuit of power, privilege and pleasure for deep attraction to home. The “Follow Me” of Jesus is the invitation of His disciples to fellow searchers on the journey. Together we move to welcome the proclamation of the author of Hebrews that “He sustains all things by His powerful Word” (Hebrews 1.3).