Daily Readings - Mon Jan 28 2019
Hebrews
15And thus he is the Mediator of the new testament, so that, by his death, he intercedes for the redemption of those transgressions which were under the former testament, so that those who have been called may receive the promise of an eternal inheritance24For Jesus did not enter by means of holy things made with hands, mere examples of the true things, but he entered into Heaven itself, so that he may appear now before the face of God for us25And he did not enter so as to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters into the Holy of Holies each year, with the blood of another26Otherwise, he would need to have suffered repeatedly since the beginning of the world. But now, one time, at the consummation of the ages, he has appeared in order to destroy sin though his own sacrifice27And in the same manner as it has been appointed for men to die one time, and after this, to be judged28so also Christ was offered, one time, in order to empty the sins of so many. He shall appear a second time without sin, for those who await him, unto salvation
Mark
22And the scribes who had descended from Jerusalem said, "Because he has Beelzebub, and because by the prince of demons does he cast out demons.23And having called them together, he spoke to them in parables: "How can Satan cast out Satan24For if a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom is not able to stand25And if a house is divided against itself, that house is not able to stand26And if Satan has risen up against himself, he would be divided, and he would not be able to stand; instead he reaches the end27No one is able to plunder the goods of a strong man, having entered into the house, unless he first binds the strong man, and then he shall plunder his house28Amen I say to you, that all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and the blasphemies by which they will have blasphemed29But he who will have blasphemed against the Holy Spirit shall not have forgiveness in eternity; instead he shall be guilty of an eternal offense.30For they said: "He has an unclean spirit.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of sin, redemption, and the Holy Spirit’s role in our lives. In the first reading from Hebrews, we hear about Christ as the mediator of the new covenant, whose single sacrifice on the cross destroys sin once and for all. This passage emphasizes that Christ’s sacrifice is not repeated, unlike the offerings of the high priests in the Old Testament. Instead, he enters heaven to intercede for us, and his work of salvation is complete. The second reading from Mark’s Gospel shifts our focus to the spiritual battle at play. Jesus is accused by the scribes of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub, the prince of demons. Jesus responds by pointing out the absurdity of Satan working against himself, and he warns that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit—an act of deliberate rebellion against God’s truth—is the one sin that cannot be forgiven.
These readings are deeply connected. In Hebrews, we see the definitive sacrifice of Christ that frees us from sin, while in Mark, we are reminded of the spiritual opposition we face and the gravity of rejecting God’s grace. Together, they call us to recognize the seriousness of sin and the importance of aligning our lives with God’s truth. The Holy Spirit, who dwells within us, is the source of all truth and holiness. To reject the Spirit’s work in our lives is to cut ourselves off from God’s grace and forgiveness.
In our daily lives, these readings challenge us to examine our relationship with sin and grace. Do we recognize the gift of redemption that Christ has won for us, or do we take it for granted? Are we open to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, or do we resist his promptings? Let us ask for the grace to trust in God’s plan and to live in a way that reflects our gratitude for the sacrifice of Christ. May we never forget the gravity of sin, but also may we never lose hope in the boundless mercy of God, who desires to free us from all that separates us from him.