Daily Readings - Tue Jan 22 2019
Hebrews
10For God is not unjust, such that he would forget your work and the love that you have shown in his name. For you have ministered, and you continue to minister, to the saints11Yet we desire that each one of you display the same solicitude toward the fulfillment of hope, even unto the end12so that you may not be slow to act, but instead may be imitators of those who, through faith and patience, shall inherit the promises13For God, in making promises to Abraham, swore by himself, (because he had no one greater by whom he might swear)14saying: "Blessing, I shall bless you, and multiplying, I shall multiply you.15And in this way, by enduring patiently, he secured the promise16For men swear by what is greater than themselves, and an oath as confirmation is the end of all their controversy17In this matter, God, wanting to reveal more thoroughly the immutability of his counsel to the heirs of the promise, interposed an oath18so that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have the strongest solace: we who have fled together so as to hold fast to the hope set before us19This we have as an anchor of the soul, safe and sound, which advances even to the interior of the veil20to the place where the forerunner Jesus has entered on our behalf, so as to become the High Priest for eternity, according to the order of Melchizedek
Mark
23And again, while the Lord was walking through the ripe grain on the Sabbath, his disciples, as they advanced, began to separate the ears of grains24But the Pharisees said to him, "Behold, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbaths?25And he said to them: "Have you never read what David did, when he had need and was hungry, both he and those who were with him26How he went into the house of God, under the high priest Abiathar, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful to eat, except for the priests, and how he gave it to those who were with him?27And he said to them: "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath28And so, the Son of man is Lord, even of the Sabbath.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the enduring nature of God’s promises and the importance of understanding the purpose behind religious practices. The first reading from Hebrews emphasizes God’s faithfulness and the hope we have in Him. The author encourages us to persevere in our faith, just as Abraham did, trusting in God’s promises even when the journey is long and uncertain. The reading also highlights the role of patience and faith as essential virtues for inheriting the promises of God. The Gospel from Mark presents a moment of tension between Jesus and the Pharisees over the observance of the Sabbath. Jesus defends His disciples’ actions by pointing to the true purpose of the Sabbath: it was made for the benefit of humanity, not to impose unnecessary restrictions. He even cites the example of David, who broke a sacred rule to meet a human need, to show that compassion and human well-being should take precedence over rigid legalism.
The readings are connected by the theme of trusting in God’s plan and understanding the spirit behind His laws. In Hebrews, we see that God’s promises are unshakable, and we are called to live with hope and perseverance. In Mark, Jesus teaches us that religious practices should serve humanity, not the other way around. Together, these readings invite us to reflect on how we live out our faith: do we trust in God’s faithfulness, even when the path is unclear? Do we approach religious practices with a spirit of compassion and humanity, or do we get caught up in legalism?
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, let us remember to trust in God’s promises and to live with patience and hope. Let us also examine our own practices and attitudes, ensuring that they reflect the compassion and love that Jesus modeled. May we, like the disciples, be willing to step out in faith, trusting that God’s plan is greater than our own understanding. And may we, like Jesus, prioritize the well-being of others, remembering that the rules and traditions we follow were made to serve us, not to bind us.