Gospel of January 18, 2021 with the comment of Pope Francis

READING OF THE DAY
From the letter to the Jews
Heb 5,1-10

Brothers, every high priest is chosen from among men and for the good of men he is constituted such in the things that concern God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to feel righteous compassion for those in ignorance and error, being also clothed with weakness. Because of this he must offer sin sacrifices for himself as well, as he does for the people.
No one attributes this honor to himself, except those who are called by God, like Aaron. In the same way, Christ did not attribute to himself the glory of high priest, but he who said to him: "You are my son, today I have begotten you", conferred it on him as it is said in another passage:
"You are a priest forever,
according to the order of Melchìsedek ».

In the days of his earthly life he offered prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to God who could save him from death and, by his full abandonment to him, he was heard.
Although he was a Son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, made perfect, became the cause of eternal salvation for all who obey him, having been proclaimed high priest by God according to the order of Melchisedek.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY
From the Gospel according to Mark
Mc 2,18-22

At that time, John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. They came to Jesus and said to him, "Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, while your disciples do not fast?"

Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding guests fast when the bridegroom is with them?" As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them: then, on that day, they will fast.

Nobody sews a piece of rough cloth on an old suit; otherwise the new patch takes something away from the old fabric and the tear becomes worse. And no one pours new wine into old skins, otherwise the wine will split the skins, and wine and skins are lost. But new wine in new wineskins! ».

WORDS OF THE HOLY FATHER
That's the fast the Lord wants! Fasting that worries about the life of the brother, that is not ashamed - says Isaiah - of the brother's flesh. Our perfection, our holiness goes on with our people, in which we are elected and inserted. Our greatest act of holiness is precisely in the flesh of our brother and in the flesh of Jesus Christ, it is not to be ashamed of the flesh of Christ that comes here today! It is the mystery of the Body and Blood of Christ. It is going to share bread with the hungry, to take care of the sick, the elderly, those who cannot give us anything in return: that is not being ashamed of the flesh! ”. (Santa Marta - March 7, 2014)