Though the Letter to the Hebrews talks a lot about Jesus the High Priest, the perfect and holy one, it does not ignore his humanity; in fact, the book embraces it. Jesus “was in the flesh” and prayed “with loud cries and tears.” Jesus knew what it was like to be a human being. He experienced fear and anguish. Yet his faith in “the one who was able to save him from death” carried him through and even made him the source of eternal life for all.

The readings this week point to the importance of recognition—and the consequences of not recognizing. Did the Israelites recognize the prophets God sent them? If they did, what did they do? Do you see any prophets today? Do you as a Christian recognize how your salvation is through grace—a gift of God? Do you have faith in that? What do you see in the “Son of Man . . . lifted up”? The love of God? Eternal life?

A good Lenten exercise is to take one of the Commandments and see how you live it. For example: keeping holy the sabbath. There are plenty of good resources on this topic, including Pope John Paul II’s apostolic letter Dies Domini. Consider as well that the sabbath is not to be observed simply because God said, “No work.” What makes it holy is that it is part of the fabric of creation; it was the “day” God rested after the work of creation. To do the same, then, is to draw closer to God, which is holiness itself. In this sense, how can you “keep holy the sabbath day”?

What to make of one of the most shocking stories in the Bible? On the one hand scholars urge us to hear this story as a “test of faith.” God did not want a human sacrifice; the key lies in God’s words to Abraham: “I know now how devoted you are to God.” But what kind of God would subject a person to such a test? We hear nothing of Abraham’s feelings; he doggedly took Isaac up the mountain and had the knife out and ready. Yet for the hearer the story is full of emotional tension, even horror. How can we read it impassively? In response to Abraham’s faith God makes a promise—but by seeming to call for the offering of the child who embodied God’s earlier promise. Why? How do you respond to these questions?

Saint Paul reminded the Corinthians that with Silvanus and Timothy he proclaimed “the Son of God, Jesus Christ” to them. It was a message he himself received as an apostle. The “amen” from them went through Jesus to God. The gospel the Corinthians knew, then, was the real thing and they should not equivocate about it; it was not a matter of “yes-or-no” but always “yes.” How is your life and work an “Amen” and a “yes” to God?

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” Saint Paul’s words carry a double command. One is to shape your life around Christ. The other is to be an example for others.

Both the epistle and the gospel this week provide “call stories” for reflection on vocation. Saint Paul describes the nature of his mission, and Jesus affirms that preaching and healing are the reasons for which he has come. How do you understand the “obligation,” to use Paul’s term, God has given you in your ministry? What is your purpose?

Jesus taught “as one with authority.” His words as well as his actions amazed those around him; in fact, in today’s gospel story, it is his words that do the healing.

In the Ninevites and the apostles Simon, James, and John, scripture today has examples of immediate repentance and turning to follow God. Make a brief examination of conscience and identify what you need to repent.

There are all kinds of calls going on in the readings today—and all kinds of people who respond in different ways. Sometimes people are being called clearly, sometimes not. In one case God is doing the calling; in another, someone is calling on God’s behalf.