Tuesday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time

• First Reading – Hebrews 10:1-10: The law’s sacrifices, mere shadows, couldn’t perfect worshippers. Christ’s arrival changes this: He fulfills God’s will, not through traditional offerings, but through His singular, sanctifying sacrifice.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 40: Patiently awaiting the Lord, He heard my cry. He desires my obedience over offerings. Openly, I declare His righteousness, love, and truth, unhidden in my heart.
• Gospel – Mark 3:31-35: When Jesus’ biological family arrived at a house seeking Him, He was informed by the crowd of their presence. In response, He questioned who His true family was, gesturing to those around Him, teaching that anyone doing God’s will constitutes His family. This statement redefined family beyond blood relations, emphasizing spiritual kinship through obedience to God’s will.

Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.

Mark 3:34-35

On Tuesday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle 1, the readings focus on themes of obedience, sacrifice, and belonging to the family of God. The first reading from Hebrews speaks about Jesus fulfilling the law through His ultimate sacrifice, while the Gospel of Mark shows Jesus describing His followers as His true family.

• The Limits of Old Sacrifices: The sacrifices in the Old Covenant could not fully take away sins. Jesus came to offer Himself once and for all, giving us complete forgiveness through His sacrifice.
• Obedience to God’s Will: Jesus showed that obeying God’s will is more important than following ritual alone. His life teaches us that true obedience brings us closer to God.
• A New Covenant in Christ: Jesus fulfilled the Old Covenant and established a new one. Through His sacrifice, He brought a deeper connection between God and humanity, one based on love and forgiveness.
• Belonging to God’s Family: In the Gospel, Jesus describes those who follow God’s will as His true family. This reminds us that faith and love for God unite us more deeply than blood ties.
• Faithful Obedience over Ritual: The readings emphasize that rituals alone are not enough; God desires hearts that are faithful and willing to obey Him. Jesus’s obedience shows that true faith is lived out in actions, not just in tradition.
• Christ as the Perfect Offering: Jesus offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice, unlike the repeated animal sacrifices. This ultimate act of love fulfills God’s will and brings us closer to Him.

These themes from Tuesday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle 1, invite us to reflect on what it means to follow God’s will, belong to His family, and trust in the sacrifice of Jesus. They remind us that true faith is shown through obedience, love, and the unity we find in being part of God’s family.

On Tuesday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle 1, the readings focus on themes of obedience, belonging to God’s family, and Jesus’s ultimate sacrifice. They invite us to reflect on how following God’s will is more than rituals; it is about true dedication. Jesus teaches that those who do God’s will are part of His spiritual family, a family bonded through faith and love.

Obedience over Rituals

On Tuesday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle 1, the readings remind us that obeying God’s will is more important than simply following rituals. In the first reading, we learn that the sacrifices of the Old Covenant were repeated often but could never fully take away sin. Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross, however, fulfilled God’s will perfectly, showing us that true obedience leads to forgiveness and a closer relationship with God.

Jesus’s life shows that faith is more than following rules or traditions. He demonstrated that true faith is about trusting God and acting with love. When we focus too much on rituals alone, we can miss the deeper meaning of living out our faith in real ways. Jesus encourages us to understand that rituals are meaningful when they come from a place of genuine faith and obedience to God’s will.

Choosing obedience over empty rituals challenges us to examine our own lives. Are we simply going through the motions, or are we truly seeking to follow God’s will in all we do? This reflection encourages us to live with purpose, allowing our actions to flow from a sincere desire to love and serve God. By putting God’s will first, we can grow closer to Him and live in a way that honors our faith.

Belonging to God’s Family

In the Gospel reading for Tuesday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle 1, Jesus speaks about who truly belongs to His family. When told that His mother and brothers are waiting, Jesus replies that those who follow God’s will are His family. This statement shows that spiritual family is based on faith and love for God, which is even stronger than family bonds.

Jesus invites everyone to be part of His family by living according to God’s will. This means that all who follow God’s ways, whether related by blood or not, are united by faith. Jesus shows us that belonging to God’s family does not depend on background, but on our willingness to follow Him. Faith, love, and obedience create the bond that makes us one family in Christ.

Being part of God’s family brings us closer to each other and to Jesus. It encourages us to love others as family members, especially those who share our faith. This message on Tuesday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle 1, reminds us to treat one another with care and respect, knowing that each act of kindness strengthens our bond as God’s family.

The Perfect Sacrifice of Jesus

Both readings on Tuesday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle 1, highlight Jesus’s sacrifice as the ultimate gift that brings us closer to God. The first reading explains that the animal sacrifices of the Old Covenant could not fully take away sin, while Jesus’s sacrifice was offered once and for all. His sacrifice was perfect, showing us that He fulfilled God’s will and created a new way for us to approach God with trust.

Jesus’s willingness to give Himself shows His complete obedience to God and His love for us. He laid down His life so that we could have a lasting relationship with God, one based on forgiveness and love, not repeated rituals. This sacrifice is the foundation of our faith, as it opened the door to a personal connection with God and allowed us to be forgiven.

Reflecting on the perfect sacrifice of Jesus calls us to live with gratitude and humility. We are invited to honor this gift by living in a way that reflects His love and obedience. Tuesday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle 1, reminds us to trust in Jesus’s sacrifice, letting it guide our lives and bring us closer to God every day.

---

These reflections help us see that Jesus’s sacrifice created a new way for us to connect with God. Tuesday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle 1, calls us to follow Jesus’s example of obedience, embrace our identity in God’s family, and trust in the lasting gift of His love.

Prayer

Lord, help us to follow Your will with open hearts. Teach us to live with faith and love, knowing that we are part of Your family. Let Jesus’s sacrifice remind us daily of Your forgiveness and mercy. Guide us as we strive to walk closely with You. Amen.

Reflection Questions

• How can I make following God’s will the focus of my life?
• What does it mean for me to be part of God’s family?
• How can Jesus’s sacrifice help me trust in God’s love and mercy?
• Do I sometimes focus too much on rituals instead of true obedience?

Word on Fire: Love and Obedience

In this reflection by Bishop Robert Barron for Tuesday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1, Jesus identifies those who do God’s will as his family. Bishop Barron emphasizes the importance of obedience and acquiescence in God’s presence. He highlights that the good life is about obeying commandments rather than seeking autonomy. Obedience is tied to love, as it seeks the good of others. Through faith, Bishop Barron encourages seeing every moment and creature as part of God’s plan, leading to joyful surrender and a sense of wonder. He prompts us to ask, “What is God doing for me now? What path is opening up? Why did God send certain experiences my way?”

USCCB Reflection: Your Lifeblood

This reflection from the USCCB for Tuesday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1 highlights the significance of the human heartbeat. It emphasizes that God, too, has a heartbeat, as demonstrated by Jesus taking on the fullness of humanity, including a beating heart. The reflection connects this metaphysical mystery to the devotion of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, allowing believers to relate to God through His heartbeat. It explores moments in Christ’s life, such as His heart quickening as He approaches Jerusalem and His heartache over the city. Ultimately, it emphasizes the relatability of God, who shares our own heartbeat, making Him more accessible to us.

What date is Tuesday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1?

The next date is Tuesday January 28, 2025.

Cycle 1 is used in odd numbered years and Cycle 2 is used in even numbered years. The gospel is the same for both years. For even numbered years see Tuesday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2.

What are the Mass readings for Tuesday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1?

The Mass readings Tuesday January 28, 2025 for are:
First Reading  – Hebrews 10:1-10: Christ’s Sacrifice Supersedes the Law
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 40: Obedience and Proclamation
Gospel – Mark 3:31-35: New Family Defined

What does it mean that the old sacrifices were not enough?

The old sacrifices, like animal offerings, could not fully remove sin. Jesus offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice, which gives us complete forgiveness.

Why is obedience to God’s will so important in these readings?

Obedience to God’s will is seen as greater than rituals. Jesus showed that following God’s plan brings us closer to Him and allows us to live in true faith.

How did Jesus fulfill the Old Covenant?

Jesus fulfilled the Old Covenant by offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice. This new sacrifice created a closer relationship between God and us, one that is based on forgiveness and love.

Why does the reading stress that rituals alone are not enough?

The reading emphasizes that God desires true devotion and willing hearts, not just rituals. Following rituals without real faith misses the point of loving and serving God fully.

What is the new covenant that Jesus created?

The new covenant is based on Jesus’s sacrifice and God’s love. This covenant is open to all people, bringing them into a personal relationship with God through faith.

How can we apply the message of Christ’s sacrifice to our lives?

We can apply it by trusting in Jesus’s love and forgiveness and by trying to follow His example. His sacrifice shows us how to live with love, kindness, and obedience.

What does Christ as the “perfect offering” mean?

Christ’s sacrifice is perfect because it was made once for all people, unlike repeated animal sacrifices. His offering covers all sins and allows us to come closer to God.

What does Jesus mean when He calls His followers His family?

Jesus means that those who do God’s will are His true family. This shows that faith and a shared love for God unite us more deeply than family ties.

How can we belong to God’s family?

We belong to God’s family by following His will and staying faithful. Living with love, forgiveness, and kindness connects us to Jesus and His followers.