Daily Readings - Thu Jan 17 2019
Hebrews
7Because of this, it is just as the Holy Spirit says: "If today you hear his voice8harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, the very day of temptation, in the desert9where your fathers tested me, even though they had seen and examined my works for forty years10For this reason, I was enraged against this generation, and I said: They always wander astray in heart. For they have not known my ways11So it is as I swore in my wrath: They shall not enter into my rest!12Be cautious, brothers, lest perhaps there may be, in any of you, an evil heart of unbelief, turning aside from the living God13Instead, exhort one another every day, while it is still called ‘today,’ so that none of you may become hardened through the falseness of sin14For we have been made participants in Christ. This is only so, if we firmly retain the beginning of his substance, even unto the end
Mark
40And a leper came to him, begging him. And kneeling down, he said to him, "If you are willing, you are able to cleanse me.41Then Jesus, taking pity on him, reached out his hand. And touching him, he said to him: "I am willing. Be cleansed.42And after he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed43And he admonished him, and he promptly sent him away44And he said to him: "See to it that you tell no one. But go and show yourself to the high priest, and offer for your cleansing that which Moses instructed, as a testimony for them.45But having departed, he began to preach and to disseminate the word, so that he was no longer able to openly enter a city, but had to remain outside, in deserted places. And they were gathered to him from every direction
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, compassion, and the consequences of our choices. The first reading from Hebrews warns us against the dangers of hardened hearts and unbelief, drawing on the example of the Israelites in the desert who, despite witnessing God's wonders, turned away from Him. This passage reminds us that faith is not a one-time decision but a continuous commitment to trust in God's plan, even when the journey is difficult. The second reading from Mark presents us with the story of a leper who approaches Jesus with humility and faith. Jesus, moved by compassion, heals the man and instructs him to show himself to the priests as a testimony of God's power. However, the leper, overwhelmed with joy and gratitude, spreads the news of his healing, leading Jesus to withdraw to deserted places to avoid the crowds.
These readings are deeply connected. The Hebrews passage serves as a warning against the kind of unbelief that hardens hearts, while the Gospel shows us the opposite: a heart open to God's mercy and grace. The leper's faith and humility lead to his healing, but it also leads to a greater mission—to share the Good News with others. This tension between personal faith and public witness is something we all experience. Like the leper, we are called to respond to God's grace with gratitude and to share that grace with others, even when it may lead to unexpected challenges.
In our daily lives, these readings challenge us to examine our own hearts. Are we allowing God's voice to penetrate our lives, or are we hardened by sin and doubt? The leper's story reminds us that true faith leads to action—whether it's sharing the Gospel with others or simply living in a way that reflects God's love. At the same time, we are called to humility and trust, knowing that God's plan for us is always greater than our own. Let us ask for the grace to remain open to God's voice, to trust in His mercy, and to bear witness to His love in all that we do.