Daily Readings - Wed Jan 23 2019
Hebrews
1For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham, as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him2And Abraham divided to him a tenth part of everything. And in translation his name is first, indeed, king of justice, and next also king of Salem, that is, king of peace3Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life, he is thereby likened to the Son of God, who remains a priest continuously15And yet it is far more evident that, according to the likeness of Melchizedek, there rises up another priest16who was made, not according to the law of a carnal commandment, but according to the virtue of an indissoluble life17For he testifies: "You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.
Mark
1And again, he entered into the synagogue. And there was a man there who had a withered hand2And they observed him, to see if he would cure on the Sabbaths, so that they might accuse him3And he said to the man who had the withered hand, "Stand up in the middle.4And he said to them: "Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbaths, or to do evil, to give health to a life, or to destroy?" But they remained silent5And looking around at them with anger, being very saddened over the blindness of their hearts, he said to the man, "Extend your hand." And he extended it, and his hand was restored to him6Then the Pharisees, going out, immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him, as to how they might destroy him
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful reflections on priesthood and service. The first reading from Hebrews introduces us to Melchizedek, a mysterious figure who appears in the Old Testament as both a king and a priest. His priesthood is unique because it is not tied to lineage or ritual but is eternal, resembling the priesthood of Jesus Christ. This passage highlights the idea that true priesthood is not about rules or traditions but about bringing life and blessings to others. In the Gospel, Mark presents Jesus as the ultimate priest who defies legalistic interpretations of the Sabbath to heal a man with a withered hand. Jesus’ actions challenge the Pharisees’ narrow understanding of God’s law, showing that true priesthood is about compassion, restoration, and serving others.
The context of these readings is crucial. Hebrews is part of a larger argument about the superiority of Christ’s priesthood over the Levitical priesthood of the Old Testament. By comparing Jesus to Melchizedek, the author emphasizes that Christ’s priesthood is eternal and universal, transcending human limitations. In Mark’s Gospel, the healing on the Sabbath is a pivotal moment that reveals the growing tension between Jesus and the religious leaders. While they focus on rules, Jesus focuses on people, demonstrating that God’s law is meant to bring life, not restrict it.
These readings invite us to reflect on how we live out our own calling as disciples of Christ. Like Melchizedek and Jesus, we are called to be priests in our own way—serving others, bringing healing, and challenging systems that prioritize rules over people. In our daily lives, we can ask ourselves: Am I using my time and talents to restore and uplift others? Am I willing to challenge structures that hinder compassion and justice? Let us follow Jesus’ example, choosing to act with love and mercy, even when it means going against the status quo. True priesthood, as these readings show, is not about power or prestige but about selfless service and bringing God’s life to the world.